AFC Bournemouth under-21 captain says new academy status will boost young players

AFC Bournemouth’s under-21s captain Charlie Stevens has described how the club’s academy gaining elite status has boosted the younger players.

The club was promoted to a Category 1 Academy in July and the under-21s are now playing in Premier League 2 (PL2) against stronger opposition.

Despite losing 4-3 to Brentford last night, AFC Bournemouth under-21s have enjoyed their start to life in PL2, and are sat in ninth place after six games, winning three, drawing one and losing two.

Welsh under-20 international Charlie Stevens has been at the heartbeat of this impressive start of coach Alan McConnell’s side. The Poole born midfielder has started every game this season. He has also picked up two goals and two assists in the last two games.

Stevens also impressed for the men’s first team after being called up for pre-season. He will be looking to have a big breakthrough season in the PL2.

He said: “Becoming a Category 1 Academy is something that the club have been striving to do for a long time. I think we have risen to the challenge well as a side.

“To be given the captaincy for this season is a pleasure and something I am enjoying a lot.”

As a side, Stevens has said that their goal as a team this season is to compete with the best teams in the league. They have already done by beating Chelsea on the opening game of the season.

Achieving Category 1 Academy status is the latest step in the transformation that owner Bill Foley has instigated at the whole club since the American billionaire took ownership of Cherries in 2022.

The men’s first team and academy now train at the state-of-the-art training facility at Canford Magna. As well as this, the Vitality Stadium is in the midst of a £60 million expansion.

The academy’s elevated status is aimed at seeing an increase in homegrown players representing AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League and in Europe.

The last homegrown player to break through and play for AFCB’s first team was Jaidon Anthony. He joined Brentford in the summer.

Stevens said: “Jaidon is someone that as a team we all look up towards. To see him playing Premier League football five years after his debut for Bournemouth is something we all want to achieve.”