FirstPoint USA is delighted to announce an exciting new partnership with FC Barcelona’s first and only youth residency academy in the USA.
Located at Grande Sports World in Arizona, the center for excellence in youth soccer development and education in the United States, FirstPoint USA will become the official college soccer recruitment partner for the Barca Residency Academy, supporting talented young players on the college pathway.
As the first full-time residential academy program in the US, partnered with a top international professional team, Barça Residency Academy offers student-athletes a fully immersive environment. Academy players compete regularly in MLS Next events, the Elite Academy league, the USL Academy League and the UPSL, together with outstanding high school education provided by the Arizona State University Preparatory Academy.
The academy boasts a proud reputation for the development of talented young soccer players, with every graduate earning a college scholarship or signing a professional contract. Players enjoy access to FC Barcelona coaches, strength & conditioning and medical team, benefitting from the world-renowned FC Barcelona training, methodology and values. Student-athletes live, attend school, and train at the outstanding Grande Sports World facilities that features: on-site dorms, eight soccer fields, professional nutritional programming, an outstanding high school, and a 58,000 square foot state-of-the-art athletic training facility.
Andrew Kean, CEO and Founder of FirstPoint USA said. “This is an exciting new partnership for us and its fantastic to be working with one of the biggest sporting brands in the world. Every academy graduate has earned a college scholarship or signed a professional contract, so we’re looking forward to building on this and supporting the top talent through the college pathway and linking players with our network of leading college programs and coaches.
Recent college commits from the Barca Residency Academy include Oregon State University, Wake Forrest University, Columbia University and Boston College.
Ged Quinn, Academy Director for the Barca Residency Academy added: “FirstPoint USA are a fantastic choice for our college pathway partner and have a proven track record as market leaders in the industry. With their vastly experienced team for college soccer alum on their team, together with such an impressive network of college coaches at the top level and beyond, they were an obvious choice to wok with.
They offer a comprehensive, personalized service which will be welcomed by players and their families, and we know our athletes will be in great hands with Andrew and his team.”
FirstPoint USA was founded in 2001 and has worked with more than 35,000 student-athletes globally, securing over $400m in scholarship funding. The world’s leading college soccer consultancy, other partner clubs include the likes of Arsenal FC, Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati and Fulham, as well as the United Soccer League.
