As the EFL's 'Raised in the EFL' fortnight begins, Exeter City is once again celebrating one of the most important parts of the club’s identity: its Academy.
For Exeter City, a supporter owned club, youth development is not simply a pathway that sits alongside the First Team. It is central to the way the club operates. For generations, young players have arrived at the club with ambitions of pulling on the red and white shirt at St James Park, and the Academy continues to provide opportunities for those dreams to become reality.
After its 2006 restructure, the Exeter City Academy has developed some of the South West’s best young prospects through education and football. George Friend was the first to graduate that same year and went on to captain Middlesbrough in the Premier League - beginning an emphatic, over 20-year trend!
The transfer fees received from the sales of these players has helped the club compete and succeed with its supporter-owned model. Some of the funds are also reinvested in the infrastructure at the club to improve the facilities we have available for our young players to train.
The numbers behind Exeter City’s record of developing young talent are remarkable.
Over the past 20 years, 72 different Academy graduates have represented the Exeter City First Team, highlighting the consistency of a pathway that has helped shape the club both on and off the pitch.
That pathway has produced players who have gone on to enjoy long and successful professional careers, with seven Academy graduates now having played more than 500 professional games.
Closer to home, the impact of the Academy can be seen throughout Exeter City’s recent history. Sonny Cox recently became the 14th Academy graduate to make more than 100 appearances for the Grecians, joining an impressive list of homegrown players to have made a significant contribution to the First Team.
The Academy graduate with the most appearances for Exeter City remains Liam Sercombe, who played 256 times for the club.
Giving opportunities
Not only is the Academy’s goal to produce the next generation of footballers, but Exeter City also prides itself in developing well rounded young men and women - suitably fitting our ethos as a club for the community. For Everyone.
One of the defining features of Exeter City’s Academy is the opportunity it provides to young players. Over the past five seasons, 15 Academy players have made their First Team debuts before their 18th birthday. It is a statistic that demonstrates the faith placed in young talent and the importance of providing a genuine route from the Academy environment into senior football.
For the young players currently progressing through the Academy system, there are clear examples of what can be achieved.
This week, Louie Cayless became just the fourth Under-18 player to score a senior goal for Exeter City. He follows Jack Sparkes, who scored against Yeovil Town in 2017, Sonny Cox against Oxford United in 2022, and Jake Richards, who scored against Tottenham Hotspur Under-21s and Bristol Rovers in 2024.
Moments such as those are significant not only for the individual players involved, but for every young footballer working their way through the Academy. They provide a reminder that the pathway is real and they could be next!
From Exeter to the Top
The influence of Exeter City’s Academy extends far beyond St James Park. This season, two Academy graduates are playing Premier League football, and both are club captains.
Ethan Ampadu is captain of Leeds United, while Matt Grimes wears the armband at Coventry City, meaning an incredible 10% of Premier League captains this season were developed through Exeter City’s Academy.
Both players represent outstanding examples of the talent and character that can be developed in Devon before going on to the highest levels of the professional game.
The Academy’s presence can also be felt strongly in the Championship, where four Exeter City graduates are starting regularly this season.
Jordan Storey continues to feature for Preston North End, while Josh Key is playing for Swansea City. Jay Stansfield is a regular for Birmingham City, and Ben Chrisene is continuing his development with Norwich City.
Across the country, and increasingly across the world, former Exeter City Academy players are making their mark.
Putting Faith in our Young Players
Exeter City lead the way during the 25/26 season for percentage of team-sheets containing one or more club developed players with 98%. The League One average was 75% and the EFL average over 72 clubs was 71% - once again emphasising how important youth development is to Exeter City.
To further highlight this, our average for percentage of team sheets containing two or more club developed players was 67%, almost double the League One average of 37%. and the EFL average of 38%.
Making history on the biggest stages
The past year has provided more landmark moments for Academy graduates. Jake Richards became Exeter City’s youngest graduate to play, and win at Wembley Stadium last season, starting the EFL Trophy Final for Luton Town at the age of just 18 years, eight months and 25 days.
It was another remarkable achievement for a player who came through the Exeter City Academy and a further illustration of the opportunities available to young players who continue their development beyond St James Park.
In Scotland, Cheick Diabate became Exeter City’s first Academy graduate to earn promotion in Scottish professional football, playing a key role in St Johnstone’s promotion from the Scottish Championship during the 25/26 season.
Diabate has continued that progress this campaign, starting every match of the 2026/27 season in the Scottish Premiership.
Meanwhile, on the international stage, Ollie Watkins became only the second Exeter City Academy graduate to appear at a World Cup.
Watkins featured in two of England’s matches during their run to a third-place finish this summer, following in the footsteps of Ethan Ampadu, who represented Wales at the 2022 World Cup.
For a Category Three Academy, the continued presence of Exeter City graduates on some of football’s biggest stages is a source of enormous pride.
A pathway that continues to evolve
The Academy’s importance is also reflected in its ability to provide opportunities for players to progress directly into the elite game.
Kieran Wilson recently signed for newly promoted Hull City, becoming the fifth player to move directly from Exeter City to a Premier League club.
He follows a group of Academy graduates who have made significant moves earlier in their careers, including Matt Grimes to Swansea City, Ethan Ampadu to Chelsea, Ben Chrisene to Aston Villa and Alfie Pond to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Each journey is different, but they all began with the same foundation: development within the Exeter City Academy.
That is what makes youth development so important to the football club. Success is not defined solely by how many players reach the Exeter City First Team, although that remains a hugely important measure. It is also about preparing young people for the professional game and helping them fulfil their potential, wherever their journey takes them.
Leading the way
The strength of Exeter City’s Academy has also been recognised externally. The Training Ground Guru has ranked Exeter City as the top Category Three club for productivity for the third year in a row.
The achievement reflects the consistent work being carried out throughout the Academy, from coaches and support staff to everyone involved in creating an environment where young players can develop.
Productivity is about more than simply producing talented footballers. It is about creating opportunities, providing the right support and preparing players for the demands of professional football.
At Exeter City, the results can be seen across the football pyramid.
From St James Park to the Premier League, Championship, Scottish Premiership, international football and the World Cup, Academy graduates continue to make their mark.
As EFL Youth Development Week gets underway, it is an opportunity to celebrate those who have already made the journey, but also those currently taking their first steps.
The next Ollie Watkins, Ethan Ampadu or Matt Grimes could already be developing at the Cliff Hill Training Ground.
Wiith 72 Academy graduates representing the First Team over the past 20 years, 15 teenagers making their senior debuts before the age of 18 in just the last five seasons, and the Academy once again recognised as the most productive Category Three club in the country, Exeter City’s commitment to developing the next generation remains as strong as ever.
At a club built on giving opportunities and doing things Our Way, the Academy will continue to play a vital role in Exeter City’s future.
Our City. Our Club. Our Way.