The Longhua District Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports Bureau and the Shenzhen office of Manchester City Football Club have entered into a long-term strategic cooperation, aiming to expand global outreach and advance the professional development of local youth football, according to a signing ceremony held earlier this month.

Manchester City, a powerhouse in the English Premier League under the City Football Group, will leverage this partnership to introduce its expertise in professional football management, youth training, and related technological innovation to Longhua. The cooperation is expected to invigorate the football ecosystem in Shenzhen and contribute to the growth of the sport across the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

Representatives from Longhua District and City Football Group exchange gifts during a signing ceremony. Nanfang Plus

The two sides will cooperate in the training and exchange of young football talents, coach training and co-hosting football events. As per the agreement, they will join forces to establish Shenzhen’s first City Football Academy in Longhua.

In terms of youth talent development, City Football Group will conduct comprehensive evaluations on young football players in training, provide professional development advice and leverage its global network of professional clubs to create pathways for young players to advance their careers.

In recent years, Longhua District has achieved remarkable progress in youth football development. Since establishing its first district-level youth football team in 2019, the district has built nine youth squads with more than 900 registered players, nurtured 11 national first-level athletes and 37 second-level athletes, and clinched six championship titles in municipal competitions.