NF Academy

What NF Academy does

NF Academy is an international youth football development company headquartered in Ericeira, Portugal (operating entity NF Academy International, lda) and owned by Norwegian parent Football Invest AS. The company delivers a structured development pathway for Scandinavian and broader European youth players (ages roughly 6–18), combining local Scandinavian training programs (weekend, seasonal, and team sessions; international trials) with international training camps in Portugal and tournament participation across Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Denmark, and Estonia. Its core competitive offering is access to elite Portuguese coaching methodology — anchored by partnerships with Sporting CP, SL Benfica, and Sporting Braga — under which scouts from those academies attend NF events and select top performers for academy trials.

The product portfolio spans four program categories: training camps (NF Elite Experience Winter/Fall, NF High Performance, NF Qualification Camp, NF Elite Training Camp), tournaments (Riga Cup, Costa Daurada Cup, Ibercup Cascais/Barcelona, MIC Football Barcelona, Tallinn Cup, Vildbjerg Cup, Cup No.1, Future Cup, FIT, Nordic Invitational), local programs (international trials, seasonal training, team training, girls' and goalkeeper camps), and individual programs (NF Individual Development Program, NF Club Experience, NF Residential Program, NF Virtual Academy, NF Scholarship). The underlying technology is a multi-country WordPress-based web platform with localized sites for Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, and the UK, online registration/account management, and a Mailchimp email stack — i.e., the technology layer is operations and marketing infrastructure rather than proprietary IP.

The business model is B2C event-driven services: one-time program fees for camps, tournament team entries, trials, and a fully-financed elite scholarship program, plus ancillary revenue from coach education courses (e.g., Offensive & Defensive Organization at 1,490 NOK) and branded equipment via a Unisports retail partnership. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer website sales, an active Instagram-led social presence, country-specific localized websites, and a partner recruitment motion targeting regional clubs and federations. Customer segments include individual youth players and their parents (primary), local football clubs and federations (channel partner), and an emerging female player segment. Most program pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed.

Name

NF Academy

Legal name

NF Academy International, lda

Website

https://nfacademy.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2019

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NF Academy is a Portugal-headquartered youth football development company that runs Scandinavian-origin trials, training camps in Portugal, and European tournament teams for players aged roughly 6–18, offering pathways to elite academies such as Sporting CP, SL Benfica, and Sporting Braga.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Football Development

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Single-Sport Skill Academies (Soccer, Basketball, Tennis, etc.) (MPAKAJAB)

Keywords

• Youth football training
• Football academy programs
• Player development
• Sports training camps
• Youth football tournaments

Headquarters

HQ city

Ericeira

HQ country

Portugal

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Training Camp Programs: Revenue generated from youth players attending international training camps in Portugal (NF Elite Experience, NF High Performance) and local seasonal camps across Scandinavia. Programs range from weekend training to week-long intensive camps with accommodation.
2. Tournament Participation: Fees for participation in organized tournament teams (NF Selection, NF Elite Selection) competing in European youth tournaments including Riga Cup, Costa Daurada Cup, Cup No.1, Vildbjerg Cup, and others.
3. International Trials: Revenue from local trials held across Scandinavia where players are evaluated for elite opportunities. Top performers earn invitations to training camps with Portuguese academies.
4. Scholarship Program: Fully financed scholarship packages for elite players covering tournament participation, European academy training, and individual coaching follow-up. Limited scholarship slots with competitive selection process.
5. Coach Education Courses: Offensive and Defensive Organization coaching course priced at 1490 NOK per person, taught by UEFA PRO licensed coaches, including course materials, seminars, and workout observations.
6. Equipment Sales: Sales of NF Academy branded equipment and merchandise through the Unisports online store partnership.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

NF Academy is an international youth football development organization that runs training camps, local training programs, individual development pathways, and tournament teams for Scandinavian youth players aged approximately 6-18. It delivers Portuguese top-club academy coaching methodology through international programs based in Portugal (Lisbon/Estoril, Rio Maior, Cascais) and local Scandinavian operations, providing players with a structured pathway to elite European academies including Sporting CP, SL Benfica, and Sporting Braga.

Product overview

NF Academy is an International Football Academy offering youth football development programs across Scandinavia and internationally. The portfolio includes international programs (training camps and tournaments in Portugal, Spain, Latvia, Denmark, and Estonia), local programs (trials and training across Norway, Sweden, Denmark, and Finland), individual development programs, and a scholarship program for elite talents. Programs are designed for players aged approximately 6-18, with offerings ranging from weekend training to full residential programs in Portugal. The academy collaborates with Portuguese top clubs including Sporting CP and SL Benfica, providing players opportunities to train with elite European academies and potentially earn professional trials.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• NF High Performance Training Camp Elite international training camp held in Rio Maior, Portugal, at the sports complex used by the Portugal national team, offering intensive training with Portuguese coaches, competitive matches against Portuguese teams, and scouting opportunities with Sporting CP scouts in attendance.
• NF Elite Experience Winter Winter training camp combining city break, beach life, and training with international top-quality Portuguese coaching in Portugal.
• NF Elite Experience Fall Autumn training camp held in Lisbon/Estoril, Portugal, combining elite Portuguese coaching with international competition experience for youth players.
• NF Qualification Camp Competitive qualification camp in Portugal where players can qualify for opportunities including training weeks at Sporting CP Football Academy.
• NF Elite Training Camp Week-long international program in Portugal delivering two daily training sessions with Portuguese coaches from top academies.
• NF International Trials Local evaluation trials held across Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland) where youth players are assessed for international opportunities; top performers may be selected for training weeks at Sporting CP academy.
• NF Local Training Programs Seasonal and recurring local training programs delivered across Scandinavia (NF Weekend Training, Winter, Spring, Autumn, and NF Team Training), providing local player development through structured recurring sessions.
• NF Individual Development Program Personalized development program offering guidance and support from the NF Academy Technical team for individual player advancement.
• NF Club Experience Experience program allowing players to train within European club environments.
• NF Residential Program Full-time residential football development program in Portugal, hosted at GDSCascais, allowing players to experience professional club environments and training on an extended basis.
• NF Scholarship Program Fully financed scholarship program for elite youth players (born 2004-2006), providing match experience at elite level, RigaCup and MIC Football Barcelona participation, High Performance Camp in Portugal, training at European top academies, and individual coaching follow-up.
• NF Virtual Academy Online virtual academy program for remote player development.
• NF Girl Camp Dedicated girls' football training camp program for female youth players.
• NF Goalkeeper Camp Specialized goalkeeper training camp program for youth goalkeepers.
• Offensive & Defensive Organization (Coach Course) Coach education course teaching Portuguese top-club academy methods on structuring workouts and offensive/defensive organization exercises, led by UEFA PRO licensed coach João Plantier; includes course materials, seminars, workout observations and a course certificate.
• NF International Youth Tournament Programs Organized participation in elite European youth football tournaments including Riga Cup (Latvia), Costa Daurada Cup (Spain), Cup No.1 (Denmark), Tallinn Cup (Estonia), Future Cup (Sweden), Vildbjerg Cup (Denmark), Ibercup Cascais (Portugal), MIC Football Barcelona (Spain), Ibercup Barcelona (Spain), Nordic Invitational (Denmark), and FIT (Spain), with NF Selection teams competing against top European clubs such as FC Barcelona, Real Madrid, Manchester United, PSG, and Atlético Madrid.
• NF Academy Branded Equipment NF Academy branded equipment and merchandise sold through the Unisports online retail partnership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 6 players selected per summer for Sporting CP academy training opportunities
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Sporting CPflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerExclusive partnership with one of Europe's most prestigious football academies. Sporting CP scouts attend NF Academy events and select top performers for training stays at their academy in Lisbon. NF Academy players have trained with Sporting CP and represented the club at international tournaments like IberCup.
• SL BenficacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with another of Portugal's 'Big Three' clubs providing additional elite training opportunities for NF Academy players. Portuguese coaches with Benfica backgrounds contribute to NF coaching methodology.
• Sporting Clube de BragacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Portuguese top-flight club providing academy trial opportunities for NF players. Multiple players have trained with Braga's U17 team including Bendik Evensen and Georgi Shopov.
• GDSCascaiscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPortuguese club partnership hosting NF Academy's Residential Program in Cascais, providing facilities and coaching for extended player development stays.
• Football Invest ASflagshipOthersParent company and brand owner based in Norway (Paradis) responsible for personal data treatment and overall brand management. All NF Academy operations are conducted under this corporate entity.
• NF Academy International LdaflagshipOthersPortuguese operating entity (NIPC 515 001 520) based in Ericeira, handling international program operations and training camp logistics.
• Football By (Carlos Queiroz)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerTechnical director Gonçalo Nunes previously worked with Carlos Queiroz's Football By company, which collaborated with Manchester United's development department. This connection brought expertise from one of Europe's biggest talent factories to NF Academy's methodology.
• UnisportsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEquipment retail partnership for NF Academy branded merchandise and equipment sales through the Unisports online store.
• Tournament Organizations (Riga Cup, Costa Daurada Cup, Vildbjerg Cup, etc.)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOngoing partnerships with major European youth football tournaments including Riga Cup (Latvia), Costa Daurada Cup (Spain), Vildbjerg Cup (Denmark), Cup No.1 (Denmark), Tallinn Cup (Estonia), and others. NF Academy fields teams and collaborates on player development through tournament participation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• IMG Academy: US-based multi-sport elite academy with a strong football/soccer program combining training, education, and college/pro pathways. Much broader portfolio (multi-sport, boarding school) but competes for the same elite youth development positioning.
• FC Barcelona Academy / Barça Camps: FC Barcelona's international youth football development programs (including La Masia tours, summer camps, and licensed academies worldwide). Direct overlap with NF Academy's MIC Football / Ibercup Barcelona offering as elite-club access for international youth.
• Juventus Academy: Juventus's international network of licensed football academies running youth training programs and summer camps globally. Competes for the international youth football development audience with the backing of an elite European club brand.
• BVB International Academy (Borussia Dortmund): Borussia Dortmund's international football academy network running camps, clinics, and development programs worldwide for youth players seeking German top-club exposure. Competes with NF Academy for the international youth training-camp audience but is club-owned.
• Arsenal Soccer Schools: Arsenal FC's international youth football coaching programs running camps and clinics across multiple countries. Overlaps with NF Academy's Scandinavian camp footprint and youth development positioning.
• LaLiga Formation Camps: LaLiga's international youth football training programs and licensed academy projects leveraging Spanish clubs' methodologies. Comparable to NF Academy in using top-Spanish/Portuguese-club training philosophies as a product.

Direct peers

• Aspire Academy: State-of-the-art international football academy in Doha, Qatar that recruits elite youth globally, runs residential and camp programs, and places graduates at top European clubs. Direct functional competitor for elite international youth development pathways.
• International Soccer Academy (ISA): Private soccer academy offering international residential programs, training camps, and trials for youth players targeting Spanish and European clubs. Closely matches NF Academy's structure of foreign-feeder funnel into European club access.
• ISG Sport: UK-based football education company offering international trials, training camps, and coach development programs aimed at young players seeking pathways to professional European clubs. Operates a similar funnel structure to NF Academy across multiple source markets.
• SIA Academy: Private football academy in Valencia, Spain running international training programs and residential stays for non-Spanish youth who want access to Spanish top-club coaching and competitions. Closest comparable to NF Academy in model: source-market feeder trials funnel into elite Iberian academy access.

Market position

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCXjuBMTWxXysYTvxqFu91LQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/nfacademy
• Instagraminstagram.com/nf_academy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/nf-academy

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about NF Academy