Ibrahim Fullah’s academy‑to‑first‑team leap underlines Charlton’s youth pathway after eye‑catching Carabao Cup showing

Eighteen‑year‑old Ibrahim Fullah scored on his first full professional start as Charlton rotated their side to beat Stevenage 3–1 at The Valley, a night that doubled as a showcase for the club’s academy graduates and reaffirmed a new long‑term contract for the Lewisham‑born midfielder.

Ibrahim Fullah emerged as the clear protagonist in Charlton Athletic’s comfortable 3–1 Carabao Cup victory over Stevenage at The Valley, converting a composed academy-crafted move to put the hosts in control. Miles Leaburn opened the scoring before Fullah’s finish from a Henry Rylah cross, and Luke Berry added a late third after Lewis Freestone’s consolation for Stevenage. Contemporary match reporting framed the result as a confident display by a largely rotated Charlton XI.

The goal represented a memorable first full professional start for the 18‑year‑old Lewisham‑born midfielder, who lasted 82 minutes and impressed with assured control and calm decision‑making throughout. Observers noted the strike came as part of a slick sequence underlined by the academy’s emphasis on inter‑play and movement; Fullah’s earlier first‑team involvement had been a brief late cameo against Burton Albion at the end of last season. Live coverage and post‑match summaries highlighted the youngster’s seamless transition from academy outings to senior competition.

Manager Nathan Jones was in no doubt about the eye‑catching nature of Fullah’s performance. Speaking after the tie, Jones praised the teenager’s energy and self‑belief, saying he displayed a “lack of fear—almost disrespect to the opposition,” while adding that “he can be a top footballer if he continues to work hard.” The manager also emphasised the player’s demeanour off the pitch, stressing that the youngster balances confidence with respect. Club comment and match commentary underlined that Fullah was one of several academy graduates to seize an opportunity on the night.

That upward trajectory is now tied to a recent contract decision: Charlton announced in April 2025 that Fullah had signed a new long‑term deal, a progression the club linked back to his development after joining the academy at under‑10 level. The club framed the signing as confirmation of the pathway it promotes from youth teams to the first team, noting his prior professional contract from April 2024 and citing his goal and assist records at academy level as indicators of potential. Charlton’s academy staff have publicly praised his athleticism, quality and attitude in training.

Jones’ selection for the cup tie underlined his willingness to rotate: he made extensive changes to the side, handing starts to numerous young players and using the tie to test squad depth ahead of league commitments. Match reports and live commentary recorded the substitutions and minutes, and placed the result in the context of early‑season preparation — an opportunity to blend experience with emerging talent while maintaining competitive standards. Sky Sports and other coverage treated the evening as useful preparation for the weeks ahead.

The night did not pass without a hiccup for the visitors: Stevenage’s party encountered travel difficulties on arrival at The Valley, with their team bus unable to negotiate the tight approach and manager Alex Revell reportedly leading the players on a short walk into the ground. That awkward prelude contrasted with Stevenage’s on‑field response, which produced a late reply through Lewis Freestone but ultimately could not overturn Charlton’s control.

Beyond the scoreline the match carried emotional resonance for the club’s supporters. The tie fell on what would have been the 44th birthday of superfan Seb Lewis, who died during the Covid pandemic; he is remembered at The Valley for an extraordinary run of 1,076 consecutive matches between February 1998 and 2020. Supporters and family recollections — including an anecdote from his brother Ollie about Seb once hiding near a training ground to avoid missing a game — were prominent in coverage of the evening and in the club’s own memorial initiatives that followed his passing.

For Charlton, the evening offered both a result and a reminder of the return on investment in its academy. Industry coverage and the club’s own commentary pointed to the victory as evidence that youngsters can be integrated without undermining competitiveness, and that contract renewals for graduates like Fullah are part of a deliberate strategy to nurture home‑grown talent. If Fullah builds on this start and sustains the attitude praised by coaching staff, the consensus among observers is that he could become a regular contributor to the senior side.

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Source: Noah Wire Services

Noah Fact Check Pro

The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.

Freshness check

Score:
8

Notes:
The match between Charlton Athletic and Stevenage took place on 13 August 2025, with the report published shortly thereafter. The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of recycled content. The match’s details, including the 3–1 scoreline and player performances, are consistent with available records. The report includes updated data, such as Fullah’s recent contract signing in April 2025, which justifies a higher freshness score. However, the inclusion of older material alongside the update may warrant further scrutiny. ([africa.espn.com](https://africa.espn.com/football/match/_/gameId/708269/charlton-athletic-stevenage?utm_source=openai))

Quotes check

Score:
9

Notes:
The direct quotes attributed to Manager Nathan Jones, praising Fullah’s performance and attitude, do not appear in earlier material. This suggests the quotes are original or exclusive to this report. No identical quotes were found in prior publications, indicating originality.

Source reliability

Score:
10

Notes:
The narrative originates from the BBC, a reputable organisation known for its journalistic standards. This enhances the credibility of the report.

Plausability check

Score:
8

Notes:
The match details, including the 3–1 scoreline and player performances, are consistent with available records. The report’s tone and language align with typical sports journalism, and the inclusion of updated data, such as Fullah’s recent contract signing in April 2025, adds credibility. However, the inclusion of older material alongside the update may warrant further scrutiny.

Overall assessment

Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS

Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH

Summary:
The narrative is original, with no evidence of recycled content. The quotes attributed to Manager Nathan Jones are unique to this report. The source, the BBC, is reputable, and the match details are consistent with available records. The inclusion of updated data, such as Fullah’s recent contract signing, adds credibility. While the inclusion of older material alongside the update may warrant further scrutiny, the overall assessment is positive.