Questions families actually ask
Who do we pay: you or the academy?
The academy. Always. The academy issues its own invoice and you transfer tuition to the academy's official bank account. Football Academy Pro never accepts tuition payments. Our commission is paid by the academies for filling their international places.
Does the player need a trial before being accepted?
No trip to Spain is needed to enroll. PFA and Nextstars confirm enrollment after reviewing the player's video and information. TFL adds a video (or in-person) evaluation and a video-call interview with the family before admission. Players are placed in teams of their level after arrival.
How does the visa work?
Long programs run on a Spanish D student visa. The academy issues the enrollment documents required by the consulate, and we guide the family through the application step by step. Programs up to 90 days usually run on a short-stay regime, depending on your citizenship.
The player is a minor: who is responsible in Spain?
All three academies are residential: accommodation, meals, school and 24/7 supervision are part of the program. Guardianship paperwork for minors is prepared during enrollment.
Why use you instead of contacting an academy directly?
You can, and the price would be exactly the same. The difference: an academy always sells only itself, while we compare three levels and say plainly which one fits, including when it is better not to go at all. One application replaces three separate negotiations. We guide the D visa, help in your language, meet the family in Spain and stay reachable all season, and in agreed cases a mid-season transfer between the academies is possible. Our commission comes from the academies for filled places, so placing a player where he will not last is against our own interest. For you it costs nothing.
What if the academy doesn't suit the player after arrival?
Each academy has its own refund and transfer policy fixed in the enrollment contract. We walk you through it before signing. Because we work with three academies, a transfer between them can be discussed in agreed cases.
What level does the player need?
An honest medium level is enough to start. PFA targets medium to high level and reviews every player's video, TFL admits selectively after evaluation and an interview, and Nextstars is the most accessible entry point. Send a match video and we will say plainly which academy fits the current level.
When does the season start and can a player join mid-season?
The full season runs from 1 September to 30 June. Short programs at Nextstars and the one-month PFA Experience start on flexible dates, and PFA allows mid-season entry for the half-season program. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for the visa before the planned arrival.
Are flights included in the price?
No, families book international flights themselves. Transfers on the Spanish side are included: PFA meets players at Madrid or Valladolid airports on program dates, Nextstars at Jerez de la Frontera. Every arrival is coordinated personally.
How does schooling work and is the diploma recognized?
All three academies combine football with real study. At PFA players attend Spanish lessons and can complete Spanish secondary and sports education recognized across Europe, or continue their home school online. At Nextstars season players are enrolled at a public Spanish school with daily Spanish classes. TFL offers an American Diploma online or in person at the Liceo Europeo private school.
Can players over 18 apply?
Yes. Nextstars accepts players up to 22, PFA up to 21, and the TFL PRO pathway runs up to 23. Adults play official competition with senior teams, and study enrollment supports a study-based residence permit in Spain.
Do you accept girls?
TFL runs a full girls' pathway with the same three phases, through Liga F and Primera and Segunda Federación FUTFEM structures. For PFA and Nextstars availability depends on the season, so write to us and we will check current options.
Can we pay in installments?
Yes, every academy splits the season. PFA takes the full season in three payments. Nextstars takes a reservation, a payment after the visa and three monthly payments. TFL offers installment plans on request and discounts for full payment. Each schedule is fixed in the academy's contract.
What happens if the player gets injured?
Medical insurance is part of the programs (at Nextstars it covers the 6-month and full-season formats), and each academy has physiotherapy: PFA keeps a physiotherapist in the residence with a dedicated recovery area, TFL includes physiotherapy access and full insurance. Serious cases are handled together with the family immediately, in your language.
Which languages do you work in?
English, Spanish, Russian and French.