Tag: academy

Josh Acheampong: Is academy defender finally getting a real chance at Chelsea?
21 October 2026 Off

Josh Acheampong: Is academy defender finally getting a real chance at Chelsea?

By Total Football News

Acheampong is under contract until 2029, meaning decisions need to be made between now and next summer.

Across recent transfer windows, the defender has been repeatedly linked with moves away from Stamford Bridge, only for sources within Chelsea to insist he was “untouchable”.

That message has remained consistent, although it has occasionally raised eyebrows.

Chelsea seriously explored moves for now-Real Madrid defender Dean Huijsen in the summer of 2025 and

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Liverpool academy: Working with Andoni Iraola and the future of the Reds’ youth set-up
8 October 2026 Off

Liverpool academy: Working with Andoni Iraola and the future of the Reds’ youth set-up

By Total Football News

One of the first things you notice in Alex Inglethorpe’s office at Liverpool‘s AXA Training Centre is a framed image gifted by Trent Alexander-Arnold.

It is a picture from 2019 of the academy director and player watching a game together. Alexander-Arnold left for a new challenge at Real Madrid last year, after 20 years on Merseyside, but his story is one of inspiration for everyone that enters Liverpool‘s

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JJ Gabriel: Manchester United case at heart of academy transfer market
25 September 2026 Off

JJ Gabriel: Manchester United case at heart of academy transfer market

By Total Football News

“It’s crazy when you think about it,” says Ryan Cardwell, former youth scout at Liverpool and Southampton.

“In what other kind of world would 15 and 16-year-olds be spoken about in the media like this?”

This summer alone, all six of the Premier League’s wealthiest clubs either signed a highly-rated academy player from another, or lost a youngster to a direct rival.

“It is such a competitive market,” Cardwell explains.

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Premier League: What are the rules for academy players, and are they paid?
16 September 2026 Off

Premier League: What are the rules for academy players, and are they paid?

By Total Football News

It is common for many club academies to offer educational programmes for their academy players, in order to ensure that they are balancing football with academic studies and gaining valuable qualifications.

This is done in a number of ways. Some clubs put their own schools inside their club’s academy training facilities, while others partner with local schools or have agreements with that player’s existing school to balance educational work with

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Premier League: Why clubs are targeting EFL academy players
15 August 2026 Off

Premier League: Why clubs are targeting EFL academy players

By Total Football News

There is no uniform approach to youth development among Premier League clubs.

International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) figures for 2025-26 show club-trained players accounted for 16.2% of Manchester City‘s Premier League minutes, followed by Chelsea on 15.5% and Brighton on 12.5%.

CIES defines a club-trained player as someone registered with their current club for at least three full seasons, or 36 months, between the ages of 15 and

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Why Chelsea have signed so many Man City academy graduates
22 July 2026 Off

Why Chelsea have signed so many Man City academy graduates

By Total Football News

Chelsea ended last season without a trophy and finished 10th in the Premier League, but their academy teams won league and cup titles.

It highlights the quality of the talent coming through under the leadership of Shields and Van der Kraan, with pathways director Jack Francis providing continuity as he enters his 16th year at the club.

The Cobham academy was previously led by Neil Bath and Jim Fraser, who

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Issa Tounkara: Southampton sign young Mail midfielder to academy
13 April 2026 Off

Issa Tounkara: Southampton sign young Mail midfielder to academy

By Total Football News

Southampton have signed 17-year-old Mali youth international Issa Tounkara.

The defensive midfielder plays for Academie des Etoiles du Mande in his homeland and has agreed terms to officially join Saints in the summer after his 18th birthday.

Tounkara recently captained his country at the Under-17 Africa Cup of Nations where his side made the final but ended up losing to Morocco on penalties.

“We’re delighted to welcome Issa to Southampton,”

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Ajay Tavares: Barcelona sign Norwich City academy prospect
23 February 2026 Off

Ajay Tavares: Barcelona sign Norwich City academy prospect

By Total Football News

Spanish giants Barcelona have signed Norwich City academy prospect Ajay Tavares.

The 16-year-old had reportedly attracted interest from a number of European clubs and Norwich will be entitled to compensation, although the Canaries have not confirmed the financial aspects of the deal.

Tavares, who first joined Norwich at under-12 level, was sent on as a substitute in a first-team pre-season friendly against Dutch club Volendam last summer when only 15,

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Paul Furlong: Academy coach leaves Queens Park Rangers after 14 years
1 December 2025 Off

Paul Furlong: Academy coach leaves Queens Park Rangers after 14 years

By Total Football News

Development squad head coach Paul Furlong has left Queens Park Rangers after 14 years with the club.

The 57-year-old former striker made 183 appearances and scored 58 goals as a player for the R’s.

He returned to the club as a coach in 2011 and saw his son Darnell Furlong come through the youth system to make his first-team debut in 2015.

“I have had an amazing 14 years at

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