As part of the Villarreal Academy international expansion project, Villarreal CF have reached a collaboration agreement with VanCity Pro Football Academy based in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Thus, VanCity Pro Football Academy is now an official affiliate academy of Villarreal CF.

Villarreal CF is a professional football club competing in Spain’s top league, LaLiga. Notably, the Yellows won the 2021 UEFA Europa League and reached the 2022 UEFA Champions League semi-finals. The club’s men’s and women’s first teams both play in Spain’s top flights, LaLiga and Liga F respectively.
Villarreal’s youth academy is considered one of the top youth development programs in Spain and worldwide, with the Yellows’ academy teams consistently ranked among the best in Spain and its youngsters regularly making appearances for Spain’s national teams at all ages. Villarreal, also known as the ‘Yellow Submarine’, will provide professional support for VanCity Pro Football Academy at all levels of the game to help the academy’s players and coaches to reach their full potential.

VanCity Pro Football Academy will work hand in hand with Villarreal CF to implement the Yellows’ innovative methodology for the development of its players and coaches. Players selected throughout the season will have the chance to visit Villarreal CF in Spain to take part in the Player Training Week and Team Playing Experience programs in which they train with or play against Villarreal’s youth teams.

The Vancouver-based academy has over 100 players in its ranks ranging from five to 18 years of age. Ahead of the collaboration announcement Van City Pro director, Imran Tahid, said, “There are many reasons why we decided to partner with Villarreal, but the main reasons were all to do with player development, talent identification and coach education. When I visited Villarreal, I saw the beautiful culture that the club has created first hand and our mission at VanCity Pro is to be the best quality international academy for Villarreal. We want to be able to provide opportunities for our players to play the beautiful game to the highest level possible.”

Imran believes this collaboration will provide players in Vancouver with very valuable opportunities. “Besides player development, VanCity Pro players will have the opportunity to train with Villareal’s youth teams for a week or so. This opportunity allows VanCity Pro players to immerse themselves in the philosophy and training methodology taught at the Villareal CF youth academy.”

Van City Pro Football Academy is Villarreal’s fourth connection in Canada, with this being a collaboration
agreement with the academy in British Columbia, the Yellows also have official partner academies in the
provinces of Alberta, Manitoba and Quebec.