The AFC Bournemouth development squad, who are the highest team of the Cherries’ academy, have been impressing for the last two seasons.
Players have been impressing and have earned loans to many EFL clubs across the country.
This season, the development squad are currently fourth in their league table, but games in hand can take them to the top.
There are many standout players in the team who are impressing not only within, but also outside, the club.
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Daniel Adu-Adjei
The 19-year-old is on fire this season and is continuing his goalscoring form from last year.
Adu-Adjei earned his Bournemouth debut with a cameo against QPR in the FA Cup.
Adu-Adjei netted 25 goals in 25 academy games last year. This form caught the eye of Leyton Orient, who signed him on loan for the second half of the 2023/24 season.
The Englishman would go on to score his first EFL goal in a 3-1 win over Shrewsbury Town and would secure 10 appearances.
In the summer, Adu-Adjei secured another loan move to the EFL after signing a long-term contract with the Cherries.
League 2 Carlisle United was his next destination, where he would score two goals in 17 appearances.
Adu-Adjei was hampered during this spell with injury and was recalled by Bournemouth in the January window.
Since rejoining the Cherries, the striker has 15 goals in 10 games and is leading the line well.
Adu-Adjei will surely add to this tally during the run-in and will be a huge help in the Cherries' Professional Development League title charge.
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Dominic Sadi
Sadi, like Adu-Adjei, has been impressing over the past two seasons for the Cherries’ development squad.
The Englishman has made multiple cameos on the Cherries’ first-team bench and made his Premier League debut last season against Brighton.
Sadi netted 14 times last season for the development squad and captained the development squad.
Sadi also signed a long-term contract with the Cherries and joined Adu-Adjei by moving to Carlisle United on loan for the 2024/25 season.
Sadi quickly became a fan favourite up north, and in 22 appearances, he scored twice and assisted once.
Despite a small number of goal involvements, Sadi was instrumental in how Carlisle attacked and was a great attacking influence.
Sadi was recalled by the Cherries in the January transfer window alongside Adu-Adjei.
The 21-year-old is captain of the development squad and will be looking to guide the team to success come the end of the season.
The number eight has impressed many Bournemouth fans and is certain to feature for the Bournemouth first team in future games to come.
The Spaniard has been with the Cherries since the age of 11 and has become the development squad’s ‘wing wizard’.
During the 2023/24 campaign, Dacosta González netted eight goals for Bournemouth whilst showing off his immense pace and flair.
The 20-year-old featured on the first team bench multiple times and has impressed within the club.
In the summer of 2024, Dacosta González earned a loan move to League One side Crawley Town and was part of a big rebuild at the newly-promoted club.
Unfortunately, the Spaniard suffered a long-term quadricep injury, which ruled him out for the first half of the league season.
Dacosta González returned to the Cherries set-up in September 2024 to recover and receive treatment from the Bournemouth medical team.
The youngster eventually recovered from his injury and returned to the development squad in January.
The Spaniard now plays alongside his brother, Malcolm Dacosta González, and they have both been impressing since February.
Michael Dacosta González is for sure one to watch for the future, whether that is in a Cherries shirt or for a team in the EFL.
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Zain Silcott-Duberry
A January arrival from Chelsea
The 19-year-old winger signed for Bournemouth in the recent January transfer window from Chelsea.
Silcott-Duberry made 65 appearances for the Blues and is an exciting addition to the Cherries’ set-up.
Since joining Bournemouth, the winger has made multiple cameos on the first-team bench, and he has made his Premier League debut in a short cameo against Nottingham Forest.
Chelsea have one of the best academy setups in the country, so it was seen as a huge coup to acquire Silcott-Duberry’s services.
The youngster is a player to watch out for as he makes his impression within the club.
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Matai Akinmboni
The young American international was another addition to the Cherries' ranks in the most recent January transfer window.
Joining from DC United, the 18-year-old is one of the youngest debutants in the MLS. He appeared for DC United at just 15 years old.
Akinmboni has featured on the Cherries’ first team bench multiple times and has been training with Andoni Iraola’s first-team squad on multiple occasions.
When the defender signed for the Cherries, Iraola made it clear that Akinmboni would start in the development squad and develop there before joining the first team.
One to watch for the first team
The defender is held in high regard by managerial staff and will soon rise through the ranks to reach the first team.
