Manchester City has today announced a new unique collaboration with PUMA KING Club, Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA).
The collaboration represents a significant milestone for Manchester City, PUMA and CSA, strengthening the pathway between grassroots soccer and world-class professional methodology and builds on Manchester City and PUMA’s long-term global partnership.
As part of the agreement, Manchester City will embed its world-renowned coaching program within Charlotte Soccer Academy. A PUMA King Club since 2019, CSA is one of the global sports brand’s most strategically important youth partners globally.
Two full-time Manchester City coaches will relocate to Charlotte to work alongside CSA’s leadership, coaches and players, delivering Manchester City’s elite development methodology.
The collaboration will benefit players and coaches across the entire CSA club; Manchester City’s primary technical focus will be on embedding the Club’s Play Model and development methodology within CSA’s Foundation Phase program (U10–U12) at the Pre-ECNL level.
Manchester City coaches will work closely with CSA’s coaching staff to support the delivery of age-appropriate training aligned to City’s principles of play, helping young players develop strong technical foundations, intelligent decision-making and a positive relationship with the game.
Beyond the Foundation Phase focus, the Manchester City team will also support coach development, curriculum alignment and best practice sharing across CSA, ensuring that the impact of the partnership extends well beyond individual age groups and contributes to the long-term development of the club.
CSA players in the program will also have the opportunity to travel to Manchester for competitive play annually.
Jorgina Busquets, Managing Director – Football Education, Recreation & Partner Clubs at City Football Group, said: “This partnership with Charlotte Soccer Academy and PUMA represents something genuinely new and exciting for youth soccer in the United States. By embedding Manchester City coaches full-time within a leading grassroots club, we are creating an authentic environment where our coaching methodology can be delivered every day, not just in short bursts.
“We are proud to be working with CSA to support young players at a critical stage of their development, helping them grow as players and as people, while raising standards across the wider youth soccer ecosystem. It is also fantastic to be delivering this project alongside our long-term strategic partner PUMA, who shares our commitment to enhancing youth football opportunities around the world.
“Manchester City is committed to increasing its presence in youth soccer in the USA. This is the next step on the journey, and there is much more to come throughout this year and beyond.”
Brad Wylde, CSA Executive Director, commented “We are incredibly proud to partner with Manchester City and be the first club to forge such a unique collaboration here in the United States. For many of our families, Manchester City is one of the most successful and respected soccer clubs in the world, known for developing top young talent and for playing a style of soccer admired around the globe.
“This partnership represents a major step forward for Charlotte Soccer Academy and reinforces our commitment to provide young players with the highest-quality environment to grow. Manchester City’s staff will be working, not only with our Pre-ECNL teams and players, but also across all of CSA’s U9-U12 competitive programming, adding tremendous value to every part of our youth development pathway and providing unprecedented opportunities for our youngest athletes to learn, develop and thrive under a world-class model.”
Seamus Deegan, Vice President Marketing PUMA North America, said: “PUMA is committed to supporting the next generation of athletes, and our partnerships with Charlotte Soccer Academy and Manchester City allow us to do that in a truly meaningful way. As a partner of both organisations, we are proud to support this unique collaboration. Integrating Manchester City’s coaching approach within CSA elevates the standard of youth development and creates new opportunities for youth players across the U.S.”
Parents, players and coaches will begin to see the impact of the partnership from the upcoming season, with Manchester City coaches working daily on the field in Charlotte and supporting CSA’s broader coaching framework.
You can find out more about this partnership at: You can find out more about this partnership at: https://charlottesocceracademy.com/pre-ecnl/
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About Manchester City Football Club:
Manchester City FC was initially founded in 1880 as St Mark’s West Gorton and officially became Manchester City FC in 1894. Situated on the wider Etihad Campus, the Club’s footprint includes the 53,000 capacity Etihad Stadium, the 7,000 capacity Joie Stadium and City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art performance, training and youth development facility home to the Club’s men’s, women’s and academy teams.
Ranked as the Most Valuable Football Club Brand in the Premier League by Brand Finance, Manchester City FC is currently developing a best-in-class fan experience and year-round entertainment and leisure destination at the Etihad Campus. The Club is committed to operating in a sustainable and socially responsible manner and ensures that equality, diversity and inclusion is embedded into its decision-making processes, culture and practices.
For more information, please visit www.mancity.com
About Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA)
Founded in 2009 through the merger of two highly respected clubs, Charlotte Soccer Academy (CSA) is one of the largest and fastest-growing youth soccer organizations in the United States. CSA provides a fully integrated player development pathway within U.S. Youth Soccer (USYS), offering opportunities from grassroots participation through the Elite Clubs
National League (ECNL) for both boys and girls. Serving communities across the Carolinas, CSA delivers high-quality development led by nationally licensed coaches who focus on all aspects of the game. Guided by a five-pillar mission centered on access to all levels of play, coaching excellence, value, long-term player development and a family-oriented culture, CSA is a trusted partner for organizations committed to advancing youth sport and sustainable growth.
For more information, please visit www.charlottesocceracademy.com.
About PUMA
PUMA is one of the world’s leading sports brands, designing, developing, selling and marketing footwear, apparel and accessories. For 77 years, PUMA has relentlessly pushed sport and culture forward by creating fast products for the world’s fastest athletes. PUMA is committed to redefining sport and self-expression, empowering athletes and consumers to perform at their best while staying true to who they are. With a focus on innovation, authenticity, and joy, PUMA continues to push the boundaries of performance and sports-style. PUMA offers performance and sport-inspired lifestyle products in categories such as Football, Running and Training, Basketball, Golf, and Motorsports. It collaborates with renowned designers and brands to bring sport influences into street culture and fashion. The PUMA Group owns the brands PUMA, Cobra Golf and stichd. The company distributes its products in more than 120 countries, employs about 20,000 people worldwide, and is headquartered in Herzogenaurach/Germany.
