About
Elite – West Ham United Foundation Relationship
The relationship between Elite Sports Academy and the West Ham United Foundation is a multi-layered partnership that provides young athletes in the UAE with both local opportunities in Dubai and international pathways in London.
London Player Development Trips
Elite collaborates with the West Ham United Foundation to deliver fully immersive football experiences in London for players aged 9–16. These programmes, scheduled in March and August 2025, include:
Daily training sessions (2–3 hours) led by West Ham Foundation coaches.
Fixtures against Foundation junior teams for real competitive exposure.
Attendance at a Premier League match to experience professional football culture.
Behind-the-scenes tours of West Ham’s academy and first-team training facilities.
Nutritional workshops, conditioning sessions, and evening activities like bubble football or bowling.
Full logistics support, including accommodation, meals, kit, and sightseeing.
These trips allow players to live a “mini professional life,” experiencing what it is like to train, play, and learn in a Premier League environment.
Dubai Clinics and Camps
The partnership also extends to the UAE, where the West Ham Foundation delivers official clinics and football camps in Dubai, hosted by Elite Sports Academy. For example, in December 2024, a three-day camp was held at Jumeira Baccalaureate School for players aged U8–U16.
Morning sessions were delivered for U8, U10, and U12 age groups.
Afternoon sessions catered to U14, U16, and girls’ groups.
All sessions were led by West Ham United Foundation coaches, with a focus on developing technical skills (dribbling, passing, teamwork) and building player confidence and enjoyment of the game.
These clinics give Dubai-based athletes direct access to professional coaching and methodologies from the West Ham United system without leaving the UAE.
Continuous Local Development
Beyond short-term clinics, Elite runs a full football programme in Dubai for players aged U6–U18, participating in leagues such as the Academy Super League, Mubadala Youth League, and the Youth Football League. Through the partnership, players in these programmes have the opportunity to progress from local competition to international training experiences in London with the West Ham United Foundation.
In short, the Elite–West Ham Foundation partnership bridges local grassroots development in Dubai with international professional exposure in London, creating a unique pathway for young footballers to develop their skills, passion, and understanding of the game.
