The short answer
AFC Wimbledon (League One) runs a Category 3 academy with squads from Under-9. It can register Under-9 to Under-11 players who live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1½ hours. From Under-17 there is no limit. The academy is based at New Malden Sports Ground, New Malden.
| League 2026/27 | League One |
| Academy | Category 3 |
| Academy age groups | Under-9 to Under-21 |
| Academy base | New Malden Sports Ground, New Malden |
How far AFC Wimbledon can recruit from
Under Rule 262 of the Youth Development Rules, a Category 3 academy can only register players who live within these travel times of its main training venue:
| Age group | Travel limit |
|---|---|
| Under-9 to Under-11 | 1 hour |
| Under-12 to Under-16 | 1½ hours |
| Under-17 to Under-21 | No limit |
Trials have their own limits: 1 hour at Under-9 to Under-11, 1½ hours at Under-12 and Under-13, and no limit from Under-14 to Under-16 (Rule 270).
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Compensation if a player leaves AFC Wimbledon
When a player aged Under-9 to Under-16 leaves the AFC Wimbledon academy for another club and compensation is due (for example, because AFC Wimbledon wanted to keep the player), the new club pays a fixed training cost for each year the player was registered here, at the Category 3 rate (Rule 363).
For example, a player registered at AFC Wimbledon from Under-9 to Under-14 would cost the new club £82,500 in training costs, before any appearance payments. Read how it works in our EPPP compensation guide.
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Nearest other academies
Approximate straight-line distance between academy bases. Journey times by road will be longer.
| Club | Category | Distance |
|---|---|---|
| Fulham | Category 1 | 1 miles |
| Brentford | Category 1 | 7 miles |
| Chelsea | Category 1 | 8 miles |
| Queens Park Rangers | Category 2 | 9 miles |
| Crystal Palace | Category 1 | 11 miles |
| Bromley | Category 4 | 13 miles |
Frequently asked questions
What category is the AFC Wimbledon academy?
AFC Wimbledon runs a Category 3 academy in 2026/27, with academy squads at Under-9 to Under-21.
How far can AFC Wimbledon recruit academy players from?
Under-9 to Under-11 players must live within 1 hour of the academy and Under-12 to Under-16 players within 1 and a half hours. From Under-17 there is no limit.
Where does the AFC Wimbledon academy train?
The AFC Wimbledon academy is based at New Malden Sports Ground, New Malden.
Source: Training Ground Guru club profile: AFC Wimbledon (undated; shows 2025/26 productivity rankings; accessed 2026-10-29); EFL iRecruit: AFC Wimbledon Academy Operations Manager (refers to 'Category 3 EPPP Academy') (2025-09 (listing now expired)). Last checked 29 October 2026. Academy categories can change after an audit. If something here is out of date, email info@scout52.com.