Young Nigerian footballers were among the standout participants in the second edition of the LALIGA and EA SPORTS Next Gen Drafts, a global youth development initiative that brought together emerging talents from Nigeria, China, Japan, Morocco and Mexico for an elite training and cultural experience in Spain.
Elite Youth Development Programme in Spain
The project, designed to combine high-performance football training with education and cultural exchange, reached its final stage in Madrid and Jerez, where selected players were immersed in the LALIGA ecosystem.
At the start of the programme, participants were identified through international scouting events, with selection based not only on sporting ability but also social and developmental criteria. From each region, eight players, four boys and four girls, were selected to take part in the Spain training camp.
High-Performance Camp Across Madrid and Jerez
The experience began on June 25 at LALIGA headquarters in Madrid with a welcome ceremony before the group moved to Jerez, the main hub of the training camp.
Over several days, the young players underwent intensive training sessions, educational workshops, and cultural activities while also competing against academies of top Spanish clubs, including Sevilla FC, Real Betis and Atlético de Madrid.
Exposure to Spanish Football Culture
Beyond the pitch, the participants visited key Spanish cities such as Cádiz, Seville and Madrid, with guided tours of iconic stadiums including the Santiago Bernabéu, the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán.
The programme was designed to expose young talents to both the professional and cultural dimensions of football in Europe.
LALIGA Highlights Growing Global Impact
Juan Florit, Head of Sporting Projects at LALIGA, described the initiative as an expanding global platform for youth development.
“We are very proud to see how Next Gen Drafts continues to grow internationally in its second year and how it is establishing itself as a genuine platform of opportunities for young people around the world,” he said.
He added that the programme demonstrates football’s role as a tool for education, integration and personal development.
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