West Ham United U18s will begin their 2025/26 U18 Premier League South campaign with an away trip to last season’s runners-up, Southampton, on Saturday 16 August.
Their first home fixture at Little Heath Training Ground follows a week later, when they welcome Birmingham City, who return to the division after being granted a Category One Academy status in May, following an audit by the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC).
As is customary at this level, Lauris Coggin and his staff will oversee a new-look squad this season, featuring eleven new full-time scholars, the majority of whom have stepped up from the U16s, as well as new signings Connor Brooks from Concord Rangers and Callum Leacock from Linfield. However, with up to six players from last season’s U18s group having already featured regularly for the U21s, many of this year’s new scholars have already experienced U18 football as schoolboys.
Among the notable fixtures in the calendar are home and away ties with U18 Premier League and FA Youth Cup double winners Aston Villa, with the Hammers hosting the Midlands side on 18 October before travelling for the reverse fixture on 17 March. Meanwhile, a derby with Tottenham Hotspur awaits at Little Heath on 13 September, with the return game set for 7 February.
All fixtures are subject to change, with Coggin’s side also set to compete in the FA Youth Cup and defend their U18 Premier League Cup title this season.
2025/26 U18 Premier League South fixtures
*Supporters should note that all fixtures are subject to change
August 2025
Saturday 16 August – Southampton (A) 11.30am
Saturday 23 August – Birmingham City (H) 12noon
Wednesday 27 August – U18 Premier League Cup Match Round 1
Saturday 30 August – Leicester City (A) 12noon
September 2025
Saturday 13 September – Tottenham Hotspur (H) 11am
Saturday 20 September – Fulham (H) 11am
Saturday 27 September – Reading (A) 11am
October 2025
Saturday 4 October – U18 Premier League Cup Match Round 2
Saturday 18 October – Aston Villa (H) 12.30pm
November 2025
Saturday 1 November – Ipswich Town (A) 11am
Saturday 8 November – Crystal Palace (H) 11am
Saturday 22 November – U18 Premier League Cup Match Round 3
Saturday 29 November – Chelsea (H) 11am
December 2025
Saturday 6 December – West Bromwich Albion (A) 12noon
Saturday 13 December – Arsenal (H) 11am
January 2026
Saturday 10 January – Brighton & Hove Albion (A) 11am
Saturday 17 January – Norwich City (H) 12noon
Saturday 24 January – Birmingham City (A) 12noon
Saturday 31 January – Southampton (H) 11.30am
February 2026
Tuesday 3 February – U18 Premier League Cup Quarter-final
Saturday 7 February – Tottenham Hotspur (A) 11am
Saturday 14 February – Leicester City (H) 12noon
Saturday 21 February – Ipswich Town (H) 11am
Saturday 28 February – Crystal Palace (A) 11am
March 2026
Tuesday 3 March – U18 Premier League Cup Semi-final
Saturday 7 March – Reading (H) 11am
Saturday 14 March – Fulham (A) 11am
Tuesday 17 March – Aston Villa (A) 12.30pm
April 2026
Saturday 11 April – Chelsea (A) 11am
Saturday 18 April – West Bromwich Albion (H) 12noon
Tuesday 21 April – U18 Premier League Cup Final
Saturday 25 April – Arsenal (A) 11am
May 2026
Saturday 2 May – Brighton & Hove Albion (H) 11am
Saturday 9 May – Norwich City (A) 12noon
