English Premier League giants Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Southampton will headline an elite line-up in the Boys’ Premier Section of the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI.
Now in its 42nd year, the Budget Energy SuperCupNI will take place from Sunday July 27 to Friday August 1, welcoming some of the world’s most prestigious academies alongside elite teams from Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.
Seven-time Boys’ Premier Section champions Manchester United will return, determined to reclaim the title for the first time since 2014. The Red Devils have an illustrious history with the tournament, having previously fielded future superstars such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Marcus Rashford and Jonny Evans in the competition.
Reigning champions Brighton & Hove Albion return to defend their Boys’ Premier Section title after a dramatic 2024 final victory over County Armagh on penalties. This marks the third consecutive year the Seagulls have featured in the Boys’ Premier Section and they have now set their sights on securing back-to-back triumphs.
Coleraine Academy players Noah Tohill, Corin Burns, Peter Whyte and Alfie Glenn pictured with Victor Leonard, Chairperson of the Budget Energy SuperCupNI; and Karl Bradley, Marketing Executive at Budget Energy announcing the stellar Boys’ Premier Section line-up for the 2025 Budget Energy SuperCupNI. English Premier League giants Manchester United, Brighton & Hove Albion, Bournemouth and Southampton will headline an elite group of international and homegrown teams competing in the prestigious youth tournament, taking place from Sunday July 27 to Friday August 1
Bournemouth will make their long-awaited Budget Energy SuperCupNI debut, bringing their highly regarded academy setup to the competition for the first time. The Cherries have a reputation for developing talented young players and will relish the challenge of testing themselves against some of the world’s best youth teams.
Joining them in making their Premier Section debut is Southampton, a club celebrated for producing top talents such as Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott and James Ward-Prowse. The Saints last competed in the Boys’ Junior Section in 2018 and their return to Northern Ireland is a major addition to an already high-calibre line-up.
Victor Leonard, Chairperson of Budget Energy SuperCupNI, said: “The return of Manchester United, the defending champions Brighton & Hove Albion and the tournament debuts of Bournemouth and Southampton in the Boys’ Premier Section are a testament to the tournament’s ever-growing reputation on the global stage.
“Our mission has always been to provide the world’s most talented young footballers with a platform to develop, compete and showcase their abilities against elite opposition. The involvement of clubs of this calibre only reinforces the tournament’s status as a world-class platform for the next generation of stars.
“We look forward to welcoming teams, fans and scouts from across the world to Northern Ireland for what promises to be another unforgettable week of youth football.”