Europe boasts of some of the best football clubs in the world and, consequently, several academies for developing youth talent.
However, in recent years, several academies have moved overseas operations to places like the USA to attract international youngsters.
Below is a look at some of the top European soccer academies in the USA.
1. PSG Academy – Miami, South Florida
The PSG Academy USA, located in Miami, South Florida, is part of the French Ligue 1 club Paris Saint German (PSG). It was started in 2015 as part of PSG’s global expansion plans.
The academy is open to boys and girls (under 12 to under 19). It offers professional football coaching with the option of an academic program. The tuition charges are as follows:
- Soccer training only (15 hours of training plus weekend competitions) at $16,675.
- Full-year academic program (day scholar) plus soccer training starting from $39,000.
- Fully-year residency program starting from$75,000.
PSG Academy USA has helped nurture several youngsters. Some of its notable alums include Pedro Adarillo (East Oklahoma College) and Alexis Huneau (French U-19 League and Dartmouth College).
Other notable players from the academy include Wassim Al-Fakit (Al-Taawoun FC, Saudi Arabia), Justus Molner (SV Eintracht, Germany), and Diego Nanton (FC Colombier, Switzerland).
2. Manchester City Soccer Academy – California, USA
Manchester City Soccer Academy is affiliated with the English Premier League club, Manchester City. The academy has several locations across the USA, including California and New York.
It offers several football coaching programs based on the Manchester City Youth Development methodology. On top of that, all of the academy’s coaches are trained by Manchester City.
The programs offered include Young Player Development classes for boys and girls between 5 and 10 years and Young Player Development Program for boys and girls between 7 and 12 years.
The fees charged by the Manchester City Soccer Academy vary depending on the program and location.
On top of that, Manchester City Soccer Academy hosts regular summer soccer camps. However, the summer soccer camps, which run for five half-days, cost $282 per child.
3. Barca Academy – Casa Grande, Arizona
The Barca Academy is located in Casa Grande, Arizona. Established in 2010, it is the official youth residency soccer academy for the Spanish La Liga club FC Barcelona.
It offers a comprehensive residency program that costs over $70,000 annually.
The academy also offers several scholarships, making it a perfect option if you search for free European soccer academies in the USA.
Most players from the Barca Academy end up signing a professional contract or joining a college on scholarship.
Some of the academy’s top alums include Julian Araujo (FC Barcelona in 2019), Caden Clark (RP Leipzig in 2020), Lucas Sowinski (FC Tulsa in 2022), and Brooks Lenon (FC Liverpool in 2015).
4. Liverpool FC International Academy –Sports Wood, New Jersey
The Liverpool FC International Academy is one of the best European soccer academies in the USA. It is the official partner of the English Premier League club, Liverpool FC.
The academy has several locations across the USA, including New Jersey.
It follows the same curriculum used in the UK’s Liverpool Academy. It is open to both boys and girls and charges a registration fee of between $199 and $2,200.
Notable alums from the academy include Ashley D’Allesandro (Centenary University), Gianna D’Eustachio (Elizabethtown College), and Jack Accorsi (Stevenson University).
5. Real Madrid Foundation Soccer Camps – Atlanta, USA
The Real Madrid Foundation Soccer Camps are another excellent option for international youth players.
The foundation is part of the Spanish football club Real Madrid and offers soccer training and development based on Real Madrid’s La Fábrica Academy.
The Real Madrid Foundation organizes regular soccer camps across several locations in the USA, including Atlanta.
The camps are open to boys and girls between 6 and 16, each running for five days. The camp registration fees start from around $549, but this might vary depending on the location.
6. Arsenal Academy – Virginia, USA
Arsenal Academy is another of the top European soccer academies in the USA. The academy offers regular five-day soccer camps across several locations in the USA, including Virginia.
The Arsenal soccer camps in the USA follow the same curriculum as Arsenal’s Hale End Youth Development Academy. On top of that, they are run by UEFA-certified coaches from Arsenal.
The camps are open to boys and girls between 7 and 14 years. The camp registration fee is $699, which covers professional training, an Arsenal academy kit, water, and hydration drinks.
7. BVB International Academy – El Paso, Texas
BVB International Academy is the official international youth development partner for the German Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund.
The academy was started in 2006 and has several locations across the USA, including Texas.
It is open to children between 7 and 17. It offers a football coaching program that uses the same curriculum as Borussia Dortmund’s youth academy.
The academy’s registration fees vary depending on the location and program, but they usually range between $95 and $3,075.
BVB International Academy’s popular stars include Alexander Saadi (who played college soccer for Trinity University) and Anthony Esquivel (Furman University soccer team and later assistant coach).
8. International Soccer Academy of America – Mishawaka, Indiana
The International Soccer Academy of America (ISAA), located in Mishawaka, Indiana, is another of the top European soccer academies in the USA.
It is the official youth development partner for Spanish club Villarreal CF. As a result, the academy is famously referred to as Villarreal, Indiana.
The ISAA academy offers a full-year soccer training program. The academy is also an accredited high school and is one of the pioneer American high schools designed for soccer players.
The academy charges an annual tuition of $29,000 per year (for both soccer training and academics).
However, they use a sliding scale system, where each student pays a tuition of 10% of their annual family income (up to $29,000).
Since its inception, the International Soccer Academy of America has nurtured several young players, such as Anna Hernandez (Bethel University) and Yeffreys Quintanilla (Malcolm X College).
9. DBS International Academy – New Jersey, USA
dbsportstours
DBS International Academy is a European soccer academy based in Dublin, Ireland. In January 2024, it launched a North American academy based in New Jersey, USA.
The USA Academy offers a full-time football training program alongside an academic program (for both college and high school credits).
The football training programs run for ten weeks each, with charges ranging between €200 and €600.
10. RCD Espanyol Academy – Jersey City, New Jersey
RCD Espanyol is a top football academy in the USA for international students based in New Jersey. It is the official partner of the Spanish club RCD Espanyol.
RCD Espanyol is open to boys and girls between 5 to 18 years. It offers a football training program that follows the RCD Espanyol Youth Academy coaching methodology.
Players can choose different programs, from full-year training to soccer camps and clinics, with charges starting from $249 (for soccer camps).
The RCD Espanyol Academy New Jersey has helped to develop several players since its inception.
Notable graduates include Luca Koleosho, Italy’s U19 National Team Player, who has also been called up by USA and Canadian youth national teams.
The above are some of the top European soccer academies in the USA. In recent years, these academies have been helping to spread European-style football to America.
The academies have also helped to nurture several youngsters, many of whom have signed professional contracts or committed to various university soccer programs on scholarships.
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