Exeter City confirm departure of five academy youngsters

Exeter City youngsters Alfie Cunningham, Sam Joce, Scott Simmons and Aamir Daniels have left the club. The four have departed the Grecians at the end of their second-year scholarships, along with Giulio Marroni who joined for the 2023/24 season on a work-experience loan from Crystal Palace FC.

Simmons never made an appearance for City, while Joce, Cunningham and Daniels all made substitute appearances in the Bristol Streets Motors Trophy for Gary Caldwell’s men. The club have also confirmed all ten of the first-year Scholars will remain at the Club for their second season.

They are: George Birch, Jacca Cavendish, Kye Cooper, Theo Cutler, Dan Layer, Liam Oakes, Santino Ohanaka, Jake Richards, Dylan Shanahan, and Kieran Wilson.

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Academy Director Arran Pugh said: "We are a fan owned, community Club whose model relies on Academy Graduates. As a group of staff and as an Academy, we ultimately want players to achieve a professional contract at the end of their scholarship but the most important aspect is developing people for the next part of their journey whatever that might be.

"All five of the lads leaving this summer are extremely good football players who have the potential to be very successful in the game, whether that is at another professional Club or at the higher end of the non-league pyramid. Equally, they are great lads who have shown real character and we believe will be an asset to any organisation that they join.

"We have a dedicated Player Care team that remain in contact with the boys and work with them throughout their scholarship to support wherever possible. Part of this process is to look into other pathways within the Club and we are already discussing potential coaching opportunities with interested individuals.

"Some of these players have been with us since they were 8-years-old, and all have represented the Club fantastically well during their time at Exeter City. We are extremely proud to have played a part in their development journey and they should all be equally proud of what they have achieved to this point."

“One of the aims of the Academy is to nurture well rounded young men and we feel that this is evident with each of the individuals finishing their scholarship this summer. We wish nothing but success to all of them in their future careers and aspirations.”