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[clarification needed], with the likes of current first-team players Hugo Bueno, Chem Campbell, Luke Cundle, Joe Hodge and Dexter Lembikisa progressing from the U21 side.

Development Squad and U23s

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
41 FW   WAL Josh Esen
42 MF   ENG Harvey Griffiths
45 MF   ENG Ty Barnett
46 DF   ENG Alfie Pond
47 FW   ENG Owen Farmer
49 GK   ENG Arthur Nasta
51 DF   COD Filozofe Mabete
52 FW   ENG Fletcher Holman
53 DF   ENG Aaron Keto-Diyawa
54 FW   ESP Dani Ángel
57 MF   ITA Temple Ojinnaka
65 MF   ENG Matthew Whittingham
No. Pos. Nation Player
67 DF   IDN Justin Hubner
69 DF   ENG Testimony Igbinoghene
71 DF   ENG Hayden Carson
72 MF   WAL Finn Ashworth
74 MF   ENG Tom Edozie
84 FW   ENG Leon Chiwome
50 GK   ENG Stan Amos
DF   SGP Harry Birtwistle
MF   JAM Fabian Reynolds
68 FW   POR Leo Lopes
43 FW   SCO Ethan Sutherland

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player
33 DF   NED Nigel Lonwijk (at Huddersfield Town until 31 May 2025)
48 GK   IRL James Storer (at Darlaston Town (1874) F.C. until 1 January 2025)
49 DF   COD Marvin Kaleta (at Motherwell until 31 May 2025)
87 FW   JAM Tyler Roberts (at AFC Fylde until 31 May 2025)

Academy and Under 18s

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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 players Hugo Bueno, Chem Campbell, Luke Cundle and Dexter Lembikisa.

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. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
55 MF   ENG Alfie White
61 DF   ENG Wes Okoduwa
76 DF   ENG Caden Voice
77 MF   ENG Fraser Harper
78 FW   ENG Emilio Ballard-Matthews
GK   WAL Lewys Benjamin
70 GK   NIR Josh Gracey
GK   ENG George Hardy
GK   ENG Lucas Kibrya
DF   ENG Myles Dayman
DF   ENG Josh Gidaree
DF   SCO Sebastian Lochhead
DF   ENG Saheed Olagunju
DF   AUT David Osifo
No. Pos. Nation Player
DF   ENG Jason Nyakudya
DF   ENG Lennon Patterson
DF   ENG Max Ruddock
56 MF   WAL Makenzie Bradbury
MF   ENG Ryan Colesby
MF   ENG Conor McLeod
MF   NOR Bjorn Marwa
MF   ENG Luke Rawlings
MF   ENG Jake Wilcox
FW   ENG Reiss Bowen
59 FW   ENG Mateus Mané
FW   KOR Minkyu Ji
FW   ENG Fabian Salmon

Out on loan

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

No. Pos. Nation Player

Michael Bristow Trophy / Academy Scholar of the Year

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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   John Dunleavy
2010   Jamie Reckord
2011   Johnny Gorman
2012   Sam Whittall
2013   Dominic Iorfa
2014   Ibrahim Keita
2015   Regan Upton
2016   Ryan Leak
2017   Cameron John
2018   Ryan Giles
2019   Taylor Perry
2020   Christian Marques
2021   Jack Hodnett
2023   Owen Farmer

References

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  1. ^ "In Reserve". www.wolves.co.uk. Archived from the original on 24 December 2013.
  2. ^ "In Reserve". www.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".