Valencia CF have reached a collaboration agreement with the “SAUDI SCHOLARSHIP FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL TALENT (SSDFT),”  run by Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Sport,  through which the club becomes a methodology partner for the programme in the Middle East. With this agreement, Valencia CF continue to strengthen their international presence in all corners of the world and show, once again, the existing interest in the working methodology of the VCF Academy.

This strategic alliance between Valencia CF and the SAUDI SCHOLARSHIP FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL TALENT (SSDFT) will promote the development of young footballers who form part of the programme. It is already being carried out in Spain, and will feature the exchange of knowledge and experiences based on the Valencia CF methodology.

His Royal Highness Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Minister of Sports and President of the Saudi Arabian Olympic Committee, said of the press: “We are happy to sign this agreement with Valencia CF, an historic Spanish club, which has established itself among the five European clubs with the highest number of players provided for the elite. This coincides with the objectives of the SAUDI SCHOLARSHIP FOR DEVELOPING FOOTBALL TALENT (SSDFT) programme.

We hope that these alliances have great benefit for Future Falcons players, helping them to reach the highest possible level and make the most of this exchange of experiences with the Spanish club."

Sean Bai, Director General of the VCF Academy, adds that “We are pleased to be part of this agreement with the SSDFT programme and the Saudi Arabia Ministry of Sport. Youth development is an important area for us, and this collaboration will help both parties to develop young talents, improve coaching staff and help them maximise their potential. In addition, it allows us to learn and grow through the process of sharing our knowledge and experiences. We believe that this partnership will be mutually beneficial, and will open up possibilities for more collaborations in the future."

With this agreement, coaches from the Valencia CF Academy will participate in on-site clinics and online training sessions with players and coaches from Saudi Arabia, as well as running symposiums between those responsible for the different areas (fitness, goalkeeping training, nutrition, scouting, etc.). Trips to the Ciudad Deportiva will be run, to enjoy high performance training sessions and to play friendlies against VCF Academy teams.

Valencia CF will also collaborate closely with the Saudi Leader Development Institute, a body tied with the Ministry of Sport, providing support in the training of coaches and future sports professionals, holding seminars and conferences in Saudi Arabia and university stays in Valencia.

Valencia CF, through the success of the VCF Academy and its International Programs, have become established as one of the leading European clubs in talent development and training, as reflected with recent high positions in the annual CIES Football Observatory Ranking reports.