Exeter show again their reputation for growth

THERE is no doubt that Exeter City have garnered a reputation for being a club that develops young players for both themselves and for others.

- STUART JAMES

You can talk about the likes of Ollie Watkins, Ethan Ampadu, Matt Grimes and Jay Stansfield coming through the Grecians' famed Academy and going on to bigger and better things, or players like Sam Nombe and Millenic Alli that have been signed for small fees and sold at significant profit.

But loan players have also prospered, with Aston Villa and Brentford both benefitting from sending players on loan to St James Park before selling them for big fees after successful loan spells in Devon.

Last year, it was goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo that returned to Villa Park with a clutch of player of the year award trophies under his arm. He'd arrived at Exeter after an unsuccessful time with Burton Albion, but he had barely dropped those awards off at Villa Park before the Finnish international was being sold in a £1 million deal.

In January, Brentford also benefited from a player whose career followed a similar path. Tristan Crama played for Bristol Rovers in 2023/24, but it was his six months with Exeter in which he really flourished, earning him a £1 million-plus switch to Millwall.