10 Best Football Academies in China (2025)
Here are China's best football academies with world-class training for future stars. Join the next generation of pro players.
Football in China is booming, and its academies are at the heart of this growth. Whether you’re a young player aiming for the pros or a parent seeking top-tier training for your child, here’s a guide to the best football academies in China, complete with how to join, success stories, and unique features.
Remember, in China academies, you have access to top facilities to prepare you for a future as a professional.
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1. Shanghai Shenhua Football Academy
Location: Shanghai
Age Group: 6–15 years
How to Join: Annual trials where candidates showcase technical skills, fitness, and match awareness. Coaches also review match footage and references. You can also reach out to them with your profile.
What Makes It Unique:
- Linked to Shanghai Shenhua FC (Chinese Super League club).
- Focus on technical mastery, tactical drills, and mental resilience.
- Graduates often progress to the club’s youth teams or national squads.
Website: shenhuafc.com.cn
2. Evergrande Football School
Location: Guangzhou
Age Group: 6–18 years
How to Join: Their Elite scouting network identifies talent nationwide. Trials include physical tests and skill assessments.
What Makes It Unique:
- They have beautiful and breathtaking world-class facilities that every academy player will love.
- Unique curriculum blending futsal, martial arts, and gymnastics to boost agility and football IQ.
- Regular participation in Asian youth tournaments for exposure.
Website: fs.evergrande.com
3. Juventus Academy Shanghai
Location: Shanghai
Age Group: 5–18 years
How to Join: Competitive tryouts held seasonally (e.g., August 2020 trials at Jinqiao). You can reach out to them via their website
What Makes It Unique:
- Follows the “Juventus Way,” blending technical drills, tactical simulations, and mental development.
- Offers international tournaments like the Juventus Academy World Cup in Italy.
- Summer camps at Juventus’ Turin facility for top performers
- Founded in 2018, it has trained over 1,000 players and hosted legends like David Trezeguet
Website: academy.juventus.com
4. LALIGA Academy Shanghai
Location: Shanghai (Tianma Country Club)
Age Group: Up to 17 years
How to Join: Trials via scouting events or direct applications. Focus on creativity and technical ability.
What Makes It Unique:
- Launched in 2025, it’s LALIGA’s first academy in East China, backed by a UEFA PRO-licensed technical director.
- Uses Spain’s holistic methodology: tactical, technical, physical, and psychological development.
- Pathway to LALIGA’s global network, including the HOPE CUP tournament.
More info: laliga.com
5. FD Football Academy (Shanghai)
Location: Shanghai
Age Groups: U7–U16 (Sunday Performance League)
How to Join:
- New players are evaluated and assigned to teams based on skill level.
- For Elite Teams (U7–U19), email [email protected] to book a tryout.
What Makes It Unique:
- Sunday Performance League: Combines practice sessions (technical drills, game understanding) with competitive matches, emphasizing creativity and sportsmanship.
- Elite Program: Year-round training with a structured calendar, including international tournaments like the FD Shanghai Premier Cup.
- Community Focus: Designed “by the community, for the community,” with seasonal leagues (e.g., Fall, Spring) and events like the Halloween 5’s Tournament.
Website: fdshanghaiacademy.com
6. Milan Academy Shenzhen
Location: Shenzhen
Age Groups: U5–U18 (grassroots focus)
How to Join:
- Contact PacificPine Sports (partner organization) or visit the AC Milan International Academy Help Center for enrollment.
What Makes It Unique:
- AC Milan Method: Integrates technical, tactical, physical, and social development, adapted to China’s cultural context.
- Summer Camps: Residential camps in Italy (e.g., Turin) with AC Milan coaches, combining football training and cultural activities.
- Partnerships: Collaborates with PacificPine Sports to expand youth programs across mainland China.
- Focus on “Passion, Excellence, Sophistication, and Teamwork”.
- Offers coaching workshops for local staff to align with AC Milan’s methodology.
Website: acmilan.com
7. FC Bayern Munich Football Schools
Locations: Qingdao, Shenzhen, Taiyuan
Age Group: 6–18 years
How to Join: Register for trials via the FC Bayern website. Coaches evaluate skills through drills and small-sided games.
What Makes It Unique:
- German coaching philosophy blended with local training methods.
- State-of-the-art facilities, including rehab centers and mini-pitches.
- Top performers attend training camps in Munich.
Website: fcbayern.com
8. Harrow Beijing Football Academy
Location: Beijing
Age Group: 6–18 years
How to Join: You can apply via the school’s website. Note that it is a school, and the academy is part of the school.
What Makes It Unique:
- The philosophy is focused on technical ability, teamwork, tactical knowledge, commitment to learning, and enthusiasm
- They have partnerships with local football clubs.
- The academy emphasizes leadership development through sports.
Website: harrowbeijing.cn
9. Eintracht Frankfurt Academy School (Shenzhen)
Location: Shenzhen
Age Group: 6–16 years
How to Join: Direct trials at the academy or through Bundesliga-linked scouting events.
What Makes It Unique:
- Part of the Bundesliga’s push to develop Chinese talent.
- Focus on technical precision and tactical awareness, mirroring Frankfurt’s first-team style.
More info: eintracht.de
10. Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) – Stoke City FC Partnership
Location: Shanghai (Qingpu Campus)
Age Groups: 8–18
How to Join: Contact the school via its website to any other contact for admission options.
What Makes It Unique:
- Collaborates with Stoke City FC (UK) to deliver professional coaching and curriculum
- Global Exposure: Opportunities for players to participate in Stoke City FC’s UK-based training camps and tournaments.
- Integrated Training: Combines academic rigor with football development, including weekly sessions at WISS facilities.
Website: wiss.cn
Tips for Aspiring Players
- Start Early: Most academies recruit players as young as 6.
- Showcase Versatility: Highlight technical skills, fitness, and coachability during trials.
- Leverage Scholarships: Many academies, like Dalian Wanda, offer financial aid for talented players.
China’s football academies are gateways to professional careers, combining world-class coaching, modern facilities, and global exposure. Whether you aim for the Chinese Super League or European clubs, these academies provide the tools to turn potential into success.
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