Next Wave · Season 2026/27
The players, performances and stories shaping the next wave of football.
Competition news
Ten games in, Next Wave is already bridging youth and senior football. MK Dons’ Alex Gilbey, Jay Matete and Rushian Hepburn-Murphy have joined emerging talent, providing senior professionals with match minutes and youngsters with valuable competitive experience.
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Competition news
Next Wave Championship welcomes Clip90 as title partner, bringing individual player video analysis, highlights and key statistics to all 72 fixtures to support player development and showcase emerging talent.
Club news
From Ghana to grassroots football, Varsity Nine and a professional contract with MK Dons, Elisha Boateng’s journey is one of persistence and development. Now 18, he has featured for the Dons first team in pre-season against Spurs and this week was the Next Wave Championship Standout Performer.
Club news
Southend United’s new U23 model creates a vital bridge between academy and first-team football, giving young players more time, meaningful competitive minutes and a clearer pathway into the senior game.
Competition news
Why the 18–21 transition is one of the biggest challenges in player development — and why young players need meaningful minutes, competitive relevance and more opportunities to prove they are ready for senior football.
Competition news
Meet the nine founding teams of the inaugural Next Wave Championship, bringing together EFL clubs, senior football environments and elite national development programmes to create meaningful competitive opportunities for the next generation of players.
Competition news
The inaugural Next Wave Championship launches for 2026/27, bringing together nine founding teams in a new elite development competition designed to create meaningful games, greater player visibility and a stronger bridge into senior football. The season will culminate in play-offs and a Grand Final
