The PSG Academy Japan project is scheduled to be rolled out through four initial locations — Tokyo, Saitama, Ibaraki and Shizuoka — from April 2026, followed by the opening of a fifth site in Chiba in September 2026, welcoming up to 1,000 girls and boys aged 4 to 15.
Paris Saint-Germain’s expertise serving young Japanese footballers
Through its global PSG Academy network, Paris Saint-Germain is delivering a comprehensive educational project in Japan, combining football training programmes for all levels with the transmission of the Club’s core sporting and educational values.
The project was officially presented on Thursday, January 29, during an announcement event held at the French Embassy in Tokyo, highlighting the close and trusted relationship built over many years between the Club and French and Japanese institutions.
The event was attended by Sébastien Wasels (Asia-Pacific Director, Paris Saint-Germain), Club Legend Claude Makélélé, as well as the local project representatives, including Takaaki Hirabayashi (President of PSG Academy Japan) and Peter Kirov (PSG Academy Japan Technical Director).
Designed for girls and boys aged 4 to 15, and open to players of all skill levels, PSG Academy Japan aims to welcome approximately 300 young players during its initial phase. Within a three-year development plan, the project’s ambition is to progressively reach up to 1,000 participants across all five sites.
Once fully deployed, PSG Academy Japan will offer structured training programmes across three sections: “Pre-school” for children aged 4 to 6, “Juniors” for players aged 6 to 12, and “Elites” from the age of 12.
Through PSG Academy Japan, our ambition is to enable young Japanese girls and boys who are passionate about football to develop their skills through a unique and innovative programme, designed in collaboration with Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting experts. It is an honour for me to create an environment of excellence where every young player can nurture their potential.
Passing on Paris Saint-Germain’s methodology of excellence and values through a comprehensive educational project
With year-round football schools and seasonal training camps, all registered players will benefit from the official methodology and programmes of the global PSG Academy network. Inspired by the training of Paris Saint-Germain’s professional players, these programmes are built around three fundamental pillars: technical mastery, tactical understanding, and the transmission of human and professional values. Coaches, trained by the Club’s sports department in Paris, ensure quality delivery and compliance with PSG training standards.
Beyond footballing excellence, PSG Academy aims to pass on the Club’s values of excellence, boldness and determination. More than just a football school, the academies offer a comprehensive educational framework, fully aligned with the Club’s methodology, enabling each young player to thrive both on and off the pitch, in line with Paris Saint-Germain’s sporting and educational standards.
As a former professional football player, I know how important it is for young athletes to develop not only technical skills, but above all human qualities. Learning discipline, commitment, effort and team spirit is essential for a young person’s development. This is the true value of a programme like the one offered by PSG Academy.
A new milestone in the relationship between Paris Saint-Germain and Japan
For several years, Japan has held a special place in Paris Saint-Germain’s international growth. Beyond its leading role in Asian football, the country stands out for its football culture rooted in discipline, respect and technical excellence—values that resonate strongly with those of the Club. This alignment reinforces Paris Saint-Germain’s desire to establish a long-term presence in Japan’s footballing and cultural landscape.
Conceived as a space for transmission and shared experience, PSG Academy Japan is part of a broader strategy to strengthen ties with Japanese fans, a relationship built progressively over the years. With a local presence through three retail stores, one supporters’ club and two summer tours in 2022 and 2023, Paris Saint-Germain has steadily developed close connections with a growing community of passionate fans. This academy now extends that journey by offering young Japanese players direct access to the Club’s methods, values and culture, further strengthening the bond between Paris Saint-Germain and its supporters in Japan.
Our academies around the world now form one of the largest and strongest networks dedicated to supporting the next generation. With a presence in 22 countries and nearly 200 training sites, more than 50,000 young female and male football players benefit each year from our sporting and educational methodology.
For several years, Asia has been a key region for Paris Saint-Germain’s international growth beyond France. We have seen the rapid development of a young and highly engaged fan community across the continent, connecting with the Club not only through football, but also through culture, fashion and lifestyle. Japan plays a central role in this dynamic, and this PSG Academy is an additional asset in our ambition to grow closer to all our fans worldwide.
Find here the pictures of the ceremony at the French ambassy:
Download the picturesAbout the Paris Saint-Germain Academy
The Paris Saint-Germain Academy is a football school open to all children, boys and girls, aged 4 to 18. In 2025-2026, it includes over 178 football schools across 22 countries and 4 continents, welcoming more than 50,000 players. As a true popular success, the Paris Saint-Germain Academy reflects the growing appeal of the Club both in France and abroad.
In these centres, around 1,000 coaches trained by the Club provide top-level training and supervision based on values of excellence, enjoyment and fair play, promoting growth and development. The training provided by the Paris Saint-Germain Academy is that of a major European club, recognised worldwide. Whether they train year-round or just attend holiday camps, the children benefit from high-quality coaching aligned with the Paris Saint-Germain philosophy. The Paris Saint-Germain Academy ties in with the Club’s international development strategy and aims to offer the Paris Saint-Germain experience to young people across the globe.
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