Ipswich gain Category One Academy status for first time
Written by
Training Ground Guru
July 11, 2025
Ipswich Town’s Academy has been awarded Category One status for the first time.
Town will begin operating at Category One level from the start of 2025/26 and are now the 29th team to gain top-tier status.
“This is an important step forward for the club,” said Ipswich Chairman Mark Ashton. “Since we (new ownership) arrived in 2021 we have consistently said we would look to move the Academy to Category One status when the time is right.
“We’re delighted to have now achieved that and this is testament to the hard work of Dmitri Halajko, his team, and all at the club.
“Moving to Category One gives us the best chance of recruiting, developing, and retaining the best young players, aided by an elite-level games programme.
“This status, as well as the significant and ongoing investment in industry-leading facilities at Playford Road, is an exciting step for the Academy as we continue to grow all areas of the club.”
Academy Director Halajko added “To gain Category One status from the Premier League is a huge achievement which puts Ipswich Town in the top bracket for youth development in this country.
“Staff at the club have worked incredibly hard to achieve this status, which will help us recruit, retain, and develop better young players with the ultimate aim of helping them progress to our first-team.
“For our young players to now have the opportunity to play against the best teams in the country week in and week out is an extremely positive step which will stretch and develop every player and help them reach their highest possible level.”
Head of Coaching and Player Development Bryan Klug announced he was leaving Ipswich last month and is now set to join rivals Norwich City.
Birmingham City and Burnley were promoted back to Category One in this latest round of audits. Ipswich placed 26th in TGG’s 2023/24 Academy Productivity Rankings.
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