Ipswich Town’s academy granted Category One status ahead of 2025/26 season

Ipswich Town have confirmed that the club’s academy has been awarded Category One status.

Following an audit from the Professional Game Academy Audit Company, the club’s youth set-up has met all of the required criteria and will begin operating at at the level from the start of the 2025/26 season.

Category One status puts Ipswich’s academy among the elite in English football, bringing the best possible games programme to aid the development of young players, while also increasing opportunities around the recruitment and retention of players and staff.

“This is an important step forward for the club,” chairman Mark Ashton told the club’s official website.

“Since we 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 (academy director), 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 Dmitri 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.”