Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. Development Squad and Academy

Wolverhampton Wanderers Under-23s (or the Development squad) is a football team that competes in Division 2 of the newly created Premier League 2. The club qualify as an entrant in the competition, by virtue of their academy holding Category 1 status.[1] Although the league is designed for players aged 23 and below, three overage players may also feature.

The team is currently under the management of Jamie Collins and home games are primarily staged at Kidderminster Harriers' Aggborough home, though the team also plays games at Molineux.[2] The team has been a pathway into Wolves' first team for the past two seasons, with the likes of current first-team players Hugo Bueno and Mateus Mané progressing from the U23 side.

Development squad and U23s

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
40 GK  ENG Alfie Brooks
54 FW  ESP Dani Ángel
55 MF  ENG Alfie White
56 MF  WAL Makenzie Bradbury
57 DF  ITA Temple Ojinnaka
59 DF  ENG Saheed Olagunju
62 MF  ENG Luke Rawlings
No. Pos. Nation Player
63 FW  KOR Minkyu Ji
64 MF  ENG Myles Dayman
70 GK  NIR Josh Gracey
72 MF  WAL Finn Ashworth
— GK  ENG Adam Harrison
— MF  IRL Luke O'Donnell
— MF  CHN Xu Bin

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
44 FW  ENG Leon Chiwome (at Colchester United until 30 June 2027)
60 DF  SCO Ethan Sutherland (at Exeter City until 30 June 2027)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  WAL Lewys Benjamin (at AFC Telford United until 30 June 2027)
— MF  ENG Conor McLeod (at Falkirk until 30 June 2027)

Academy and Under 18s

Wolverhampton Wanderers Academy is a Category 1 status facility and has produced several high-profile graduates including internationals Robbie Keane and Joleon Lescott.[3] Many other players have gone on to play first team football at Molineux, including current first-team player Hugo Bueno.

The current U18 lead coach is James McPike and is based at the club's Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground.[4][5]

All players are correct in accordance to the Wolves Official Website (not including trialists)[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
50 MF  ENG Jerome Abbey
75 GK  ENG Alfie Arnold
78 FW  ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
79 DF  SCO Sebastian Lochhead
80 MF  ENG Mason Stevens
81 DF  WAL Ashton Williams
— GK  ENG Dawood Asif
— GK  IRL Xander Grieves
— DF  ENG Desmond Ekhosuehi
— DF  ITA Elvis Elendu
— DF  WAL Leon Huxley
— DF  ENG Max Nolan-Ruddock
— DF  ENG Elliot Saba
— DF  ENG Ollie Stafford
— MF  ENG Aaron Aneke
No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  ENG Josiah Djokoto
— MF  ENG Hayden Ford
— MF  COD Julian Garate
— MF  ENG Max Hinks
— MF  ENG Shafaat Njuki
— MF  ENG Saviour Nkume
— MF  ENG Clive Odour
— MF  ENG Caeden Pugh
— MF  ENG Abdul Seidu
— FW  IRL Dapo Anunlopo
— FW  ENG Reiss Bowen
— FW  ENG Tyler Coulsen
— FW  ENG Ricky Jackson
— FW  ENG Junior Mathai

Michael Bristow Trophy / Academy Scholar of the Year

The Michael Bristow trophy is named after Mike Bristow, a lifelong Wolverhampton Wanderers FC supporter, who died in 2008.

The trophy was donated to Wolverhampton Wanderers FC by Keith Brown.

The trophy is a sterling silver cup, below which are engraved the names of the annual winner, which is decided upon by Wolves and awarded annually to their Academy Scholar of the Year. The trophy is retained in the trophy room at the Molineux.

The presentation is generally made on the pitch in one of the final first team home games of the season, by Keith Brown, Hazel Bristow and Matt Bristow. The winner is given an engraved trophy donated by Keith Brown or Hazel Bristow, to mark their achievement.

Season Winner
2009 Republic of Ireland John Dunleavy
2010 England Jamie Reckord
2011 Northern Ireland Johnny Gorman
2012 England Sam Whittall
2013 England Dominic Iorfa
2014 France Ibrahim Keita
2015 England Regan Upton
2016 Wales Ryan Leak
2017 England Cameron John
2018 England Ryan Giles
2019 England Taylor Perry
2020 Portugal Christian Marques
2021 England Jack Hodnett
2023 England Owen Farmer

References

  1. ↑ "In Reserve". wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  2. ↑ "In Reserve". wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  3. ↑ "Category One academy". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 27 July 2012.
  4. ↑ "Scott Sellars appointed as Head of Academy". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 12 March 2019.
  5. ↑ "Academy undergoes summer restructure". Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. 7 September 2019.
  6. ↑ "Under-18".