Birmingham City to have Category One academy status restored
Birmingham City will soon be awarded Category One academy status thanks to a continued push from their U.S. owners Knighthead as they work to restore a youth system that produced Jude Bellingham back to its previous level.
The club's academy lost its Category One status in 2022 after being granted an initial 12-month provisional licence. It was revoked by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC) due to a lack of investment from the former owners, Birmingham Sports Holdings Ltd.
As part of the latest audit, the PGAAC returned to the Knighthead Performance Centre, formerly known as Wast Hills, to access, amongst other things, the facilities and staffing levels.
Birmingham have received a positive update and will be able to start building for the future. Category One status will open the door to the elite domestic leagues and fixtures, and allow the club to continue rebuilding after losing some of their best young players across various age levels to rival clubs.
Chairman Tom Wagner previously spoke about improving the academy and pledged to 'help young talent' flourish when Knighthead gained control of the club in 2023.
A provisional one-year licence has been granted ahead of another audit next season.
Birmingham will play in the Championship during the 2025-26 campaign after winning League One with a record-breaking 111 points in their second season under Knighthead's ownership. The club had been relegated from the Championship the previous season.
Real Madrid and England midfielder Bellingham is a product of the Birmingham academy and broke into the first team in 2019, becoming the club's youngest debutant, aged 16 years and 38 days and earning a move to Borussia Dortmund.
(Top image of Jude Bellingham at Birmingham City, via James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)
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