Football academies in the UK that accept international students

Nancy Marende

With an unsurpassed enthusiasm for football, it’s no surprise that the UK has some of the best football academies.

Several UK football academies have made names for themselves when it comes to developing youth talent.

But which of these academies are the best for international students?

Below, we look at the top international football academies in the UK and their fees.

1. AFC Bournemouth Academy – Bournemouth

AFC Bournemouth Academy  is located in Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth Academy is located in Bournemouth. Image: X/afcb_academy

AFC Bournemouth Academy is an excellent option if you want to join a football academy in the UK.

Located in Bournemouth, the academy is the Premier League side AFC Bournemouth youth development program.

The academy organizes periodic pre-academy trials for talented youths to join the prestigious academy. On top of that, the academy offers soccer camps for children between 7 and 12 years, which cost £13 per day.

AFC Bournemouth Academy has operated for decades and produced dozens of professional footballers.

The most notable ones include Gavin Kilkenny (Ireland), Mark Travers (Ireland), Nnamdi Ofoborh (Nigeria), Jack Simpson (England), Jordan Holmes (Australia), and Jamal Bajandouh (Saudi Arabia).

2. Colchester United Academy – Colchester, Essex

Colchester United Academy is based in Colchester, Essex, England.
Colchester United Academy is based in Colchester, Essex, England. Image: X/ColU_Academy

Colchester United Academy is the youth development centre for Colchester United FC, which competes in the EFL League Two. The academy is based in Colchester, Essex, England.

It offers football training to players from below 8 to 21 years of age. On top of academy training, the club offers annual football summer camps, which cost around £160.

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For years now, Colchester Academy has been producing talented graduates, many of whom join the senior team with others signing professional contracts with other clubs.

Some of the most notable graduates include Ollie Kensdale, Louis Dunne, Michael O’Donoghue, Macauley Bonne, and Junior Tchamadeu.

3. Football Education Academy – Stoke-on-Trent

Football Education Academy produced  Manuela Delle who graduated from Stoke City FC Women’s first team
Football Education Academy produced Manuela Delle, who graduated from Stoke City FC Women’s first team. Image: Stoke on Trent College

The Football Education Academy is a football training program based in Stoke-on-Trent, United Kingdom.

The academy is a collaborative effort between the English football club Stoke City FC and the Stoke-on-Trent College.

It is open to boys and girls above the age of 16. The players receive professional football training while pursuing academic studies at Stoke-on-Trent College.

The program has no charges, making this one of the top free football academies in the UK. The academy has produced several graduates, some of whom have pursued professional football careers.

Notable academy players include Manuela Delle, who graduated from Stoke City FC Women’s first team, and Thomas Walton, who received a football scholarship at St.Louis in America to play football.

4. Soccer Elite FA – Gillingham

 Soccer Elite FA  is based in Gillingham, United Kingdom
Soccer Elite FA is based in Gillingham, United Kingdom. Image: X/soccerelitefa

Soccer Elite FA is another top football academy in the UK. It is based in Gillingham, United Kingdom, although it operates several other training facilities in Maidstone, Medway, and Kent.

The academy was established in 2006, with another Girls’ Academy opening in 2022. Soccer Elite FA offers professional football coaching and academic studies to students between 16 and 19.

The academy also offers training for junior players as young as under 7. Academy players train (and pursue their studies) for free through the Soccer Elite Football Scholarship.

Since its inception, Soccer Elite FA Academy has produced several graduates. The most notable include Alessia Russo, Miri Taylor, Luis Binks, and David Ajiboye.

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5. Langley Football Academy – Loddon, Norfolk

Langley Football Academy is located  in Loddon, Norfolk
Langley Football Academy is located in Loddon, Norfolk. Image: X/LangleyFBAcad

Langley Football Academy is one of the top Football academies in the UK that accepts international students.

Located in Loddon, Norfolk, it is part of the Langley School, an independent day and full-boarding school in the UK.

The academy offers professional football coaching alongside a comprehensive academic curriculum (GCSE, A-Levels, or Level 3 BTEC). The program is open to boys and girls between 10 and 18.

The football training program (exclusive of the academic tuition) costs £2750 per term with an additional league fee of £537.50 per term and a learning support fee (£40.00 per hour on a 1:1 basis).

Langley Football Academy has produced several graduates who have pursued professional football careers.

Some of the notable ones include Alex Matos (Huddersfield Town), Matt Ward (Braintree Town), and Nelson Khumbeni (AFC Fylde).

6. EduKick International Football Academy – Manchester

EduKick Football Academy has produced Davide Somma
EduKick Football Academy has produced Davide Somma. Image: X/LUFCpolls

EduKick International Football Academy is a soccer school based in Manchester, England. It was founded in 2001 by Joseph Bilota, a former professional soccer player. 

The academy is open to players between the ages of 12 and 26. It offers professional football training alongside an academic program (English Language, A-Levels, AS-Levels, IB course, and BTEC).

It offers a full-year training program split into two 22-week terms with a tuition fee of $16,990 per term plus $200 as a compulsory fee application.

EduKick Football Academy has produced several graduates turned professional footballers. Notable ones include Davide Somma, Sam Zimmerman, and Duncan McCormick.

7. Manchester City Academy – Manchester

Manchester City Academy is  of the top football academies in the UK
Manchester City Academy is one of the top football academies in the UK. Image: X/ManCityAcademy

Manchester City Academy is another of the top football academies in the UK, located in Manchester, England.

It is the official youth development program for the English Premier League club Manchester City.

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The academy is open to boys and girls between 5 and 14 years. It offers year-round football training, split into three sessions of around 12 weeks each.

The training program costs between £399 and £435, with an additional £60 for the training kit.

Notable alumni from the academy include Jadon Sancho, Kasper Schmeichel, Phil Foden, and Kieran Trippier.

8. New Forest Football Academy – Bournemouth

 New Forest Football Academy is based in New Forest, Bournemouth.
New Forest Football Academy is based in New Forest, Bournemouth. Image: X/NFFAcademy

New Forest Football Academy is a UK soccer school based in New Forest, Bournemouth.

In 2022, the club became the official academy partner of AFC Bournemouth, providing its players with a clear pathway to becoming professional footballers.

The New Forest Football Academy offers football coaching services to players between 3 and 16 years of age.

The academy offers several training programs (beginner to high-performance development) with charges starting from £46.25.

Since its inception, New Forest Football Academy has produced several graduates, with over 50 signing professional contracts with UK football clubs.

The most notable ones include Eddie Beach(Chelsea FC First Team), Josh Squires (Southampton FC B Team), and Harry Thomas (Peterborough United U23).

9. Fleetwood Town International Football Academy – Thornton-Cleveleys

Fleetwood Town International Football Academy U-18s  team
Fleetwood Town International Football Academy U-18s team. Image: X/AcademyFTFC

Fleetwood Town International Football Academy (FTIFA) is a top football academy in the UK for international students. It is the official youth development program for Fleetwood Town FC.

The academy is based at the Poolfoot Farm Sports & Leisure Complex in Thornton-Cleveleys, a facility that was opened in 2016.

FTIFA offers a year-round football training program that includes full-board accommodation. The charges for the program start at £1,999 (four-week course), £4,800 (12 weeks), and £9,600 (24 weeks).

The academy has produced several players over the years, like David Baine (Canada), Dylan Maes (Belgium), and Brandon Beaza (Canada).

10. Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy – Leeds

Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy  is based in Leeds
Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy is based in Leeds. Image: X/RIASA_Soccer

Richmond International Academic & Soccer Academy (RIASA) is a soccer school based in Leeds, United Kingdom. It is part of the Richmond International University.

The RIASA academy offers a football coaching program to college-age students, with year-round training (for nine months).

The student-athletes also pursue a dual-accredited (UK and US) degree in International Sports Management.

The program is offered at £27,750 per year (UK students) and £32,150 per year (International Students).

RIASA academy program has produced several professional football stars. Notable graduates include Nahki Wells (Bristol City), Christian Eissele (pro-footballer turned coach), and Adam McCabe.

Are you looking to play football in the UK? The above are top football academies in the UK.

They are the perfect soccer schools for international students with a passion for football and looking to pursue a career as professional footballers.

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