Wed 08 Jul - Posted in Breaking News
Time to read: 3mins
Derby County Academy has confirmed 12 new first-year scholars ahead of the 2026/27 season.
A new group of young prospects have joined the Under-18 squad ahead of the new campaign, set to once again compete in Premier League – North, as well as multiple cup competitions.
The scholars were welcomed at their presentation evening at Pride Park Stadium at the end of June.
The event celebrated the players’ graduation into the full-time programme and included Q&A sessions with Head Coach John Eustace and Rams defender Craig Forsyth.
The Young Rams were also presented with their graduation caps by Forsyth alongside Under-18 Lead Coach Bradley Johnson and Assistant Lewis Bourne.
Ten players have graduated through the Academy, continuing their journeys at Moor Farm Training Centre. Meanwhile, Troy Ogedenbe and Daniel Watmon have joined the club from elsewhere.
Introducing the Rams’ new first-year scholars…
Centre-back Joseph Connor joined the club aged seven, having played grassroots football for Spondon Dynamos. The defender has risen through the ranks of the Academy and played 18 times in Premier League – North for the Under-18s last season and will now become a permanent part of the squad as a scholar.
A winger, Fearon joined Derby at Under-14 level. He gained his first minutes for the Under-18s from the bench in a Premier League – North against Liverpool in January 2025.
Midfielder Remi Harvey joined Derby at the pre-Academy level. He continued to ascend through the system and made his first league outing for the Under-18s in March 2025. Last season, Harvey made a further 15 appearances and scored four times for the Young Rams. He has also represented England as a youth international.
Lukic can play in midfield or at the heart of defence. He linked up with the Rams at Under-10 level after a trial in 2020 and has since impressed as he moved up the age groups. Last season, he featured three times for the Under-18s.
A striker, Nessling joined Derby at the Pre-Academy level and has progressed through the system. He featured on four occasions for the Under-18s in 2025/26 – including scoring against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the FA Youth Cup.
A Norwegian English striker, Ogedenbe spent two years with Gillingham’s Academy before joining the Rams. He has also previously turned his hand to athletics in the past; in 2025, he was Kent Under-17s 200m champion.
An attacking player, Olofingbuaro, operates on the left wing or as an attacking midfielder. He joined up with the Rams at the Pre-Academy level. A cameo of 20 minutes against Liverpool in January 2026 earned Olofingbuaro his first league appearance with the Under-18 squad.
Goalkeeper O’Neill impressed between the sticks last season, playing ten times for Bradley Johnson’s Under-18s as well as featuring in squads with the Under-21s and training with the First Team goalkeeping group.
Simpson joined Derby at Pre-Academy. The midfielder will ascend to the Under-18s squad for the first time in 2026/27, having made one previous league appearance for Bradley Johnson’s side – from the bench against Liverpool in January 2026.
Wracking up 18 league appearances for the Under-18s last season, Taylor will become a permanent part of the squad in the new campaign. A defender who can play both right-back and centre-back, Taylor has also represented England at youth level, featuring five times for the England Under-16s.
A left-sided full-back, Watmon is a new addition going into the new season. He played for Fulham from the age of nine. He has joined the Rams ahead of the new campaign after six seasons in the Premier League club’s Academy.
Central midfielder Wilson started out at the grassroots level with Selston FC before joining the Rams at the Pre-Academy level. He was a frequent fixture for the Under-16s last season and featured for the Under-18s when he made three substitute appearances towards the end of the campaign.
The Under-18s’ 2026/27 fixtures will be confirmed and communicated in due course.
