U's wonderkids: Where are they now?

The U's have had their fair share of promising young players at the Abbey in recent years with many taking different directions in their footballing journey. We will take a deep dive on how much the academy has improved and what it's produced.

Saleem Akanbi

The Cambridge born winger was at the U's since under 9s and through his discipline on and off the pitch was offered a professional contract in 2022. He found a knack for the back of the net in youth football and fans were excited to see him in amber. However, an unfortunate ACL injury set the promising winger back for 8 months. This huge injury at such a young age saw him being released by Cambridge United. The journey wasn't over for Saleem, as he then joined Hemel Hempstead and scored a beautiful curling shot from the edge of the box away to Dorking Wanderers. A move to Chelmsford was successful for Akanbi but so was his off the pitch transfers. Working with the likes of Cambridge Radio, BBC Cambridgeshire and featuring on talk shows such as LAPS. As he continues to perform on the pitch for Bishop's Stortford, he excels off the pitch too. A true inspiration to Cambridge as a city despite not making it at the professional level.

Harry Darling

'The Darling' was a key piece to the promotion side that joined League One. Harry Darling, Cambridge born, was loved by all and engraved as a wonderkid in the year that the U's finished 2nd and gained a valuable promotion. He may not have grabbed all the headlines, due to Wessi and Mullin in attack, but was superb and his ceiling was clearly so high. He gained a move to MK Dons and was then in the League One team of the season in 2021-22. He then reached higher heights with a move to solid Championship side Swansea and made a name for himself as a very good Championship centre back. Most recently, he came back to the East of England and signed for Norwich City. The canaries have loved life with a darling in defence as he has scored and helped lead them to 2 league wins so far. He will rarely grab headlines, but with him at centre back Norwich fan's don't need to worry.

Tom Knowles

Cambridge born, 6ft attacking midfielder, Tom Knowles came through his boyhood club's academy but rarely played for the first team. Making 4 appearances and getting 1 goal was enough to get him loans to Chelmsford, Cambridge City and Hemel Hempstead to name a few. The exciting youngster unfortunately was released at the end of the 2019-20 season and joined Yeovil Town for 2 years. 16 goals in just over 70 games was him gain a move to Walsall before joining Forest green just over a year ago. At 27 years old Knowles may have reached his ceiling which is a shame after playing well in the youth age groups.

Kai Yearn

The absolute gem of a midfielder, who had Chelsea and Arsenal on ropes during the magical FA Youth Cup run, became the clubs youngest goal scorer on August 31st 2021 netting against Oxford United in the EFL Trophy. He had everything from flair to composure in the attacking third and great off the ball movement. For some bizarre reason, he was released and joined Championship side Coventry on a free. He has since been sent on loan to Maidenhead until January 2026. He has shown how good he really is in the youth groups at both United and Coventry. Yearn's ceiling has no limit and to see a local player be released but do so well in the year he's been away is bittersweet. Coventry fans have a right player on their hands and no doubt will be entertained when he makes his men's debut.