Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) on Tuesday announced its plans to build a new football academy in Casablanca, Morocco, in September 2024.
The PSG Academy in Casablanca would introduce young Moroccan footballers to the club’s famous training technique, thereby enhancing PSG’s sporting connections with Morocco, the Paris-based club said on its website.
The academy will be located in Tamaris and will have a full-size 11-a-side pitch, as well as smaller 5-a-side, 7-a-side, and 9-a-side fields.
The cutting-edge facility will serve boys and girls aged 4 to 18, providing high-quality training and facilities including a café and three padel courts.
The project’s local development will be overseen by Daoud Boulanger, an accomplished French trainer with a strong background in Moroccan football.
Boulanger, a UEFA and CAF instructor who has worked for a number of clubs, expressed his enthusiasm for the concept.
Achraf Hakimi’s club desire to open an academy in Casablanca stems from the club’s strong fan base in Morocco and the surrounding region.
With 4.9 million social media followers, bolstered by the presence of star defender Achraf Hakimi, Morocco is PSG’s tenth greatest fan base.
In total, the club has 18.6 million fans in the region, accounting for 12% of its global fan base of 214 million.
Nadia Benmokhtar, Head of Brand Development, stated: “We are incredibly proud to expand PSG Academy to Morocco.”
“This initiative underscores our commitment to youth training excellence and allows us to connect more closely with our passionate supporters in this football-loving country, offering them an unforgettable experience aligned with their enthusiasm for PSG,” she added.
Not only PSG, Football Club Barcelona, or Barça, announced on July 2023 its plans to open an academy in the Moroccan capital Rabat.