David Moyes twice enticed Landon Donovan, the USA’s biggest football star, to come and play for Everton and now talented players across both the US and Canada can take their game to the next level with the help of the Blues. Everton’s International Academy, already established across the two nations via a dedicated summer soccer camp series, is now launching an Advanced Player Program, aimed at honing the next generation of talent, Stateside.

The Blues have strong links with the US with goalkeeper Tim Howard, capped 121 times by the country, holding the club appearance record for players from outside the British Isles (414) while Joe-Max Moore, Brian McBride and Preki have also played for them. The ECHO understands that Everton are in talks about heading to the USA this summer as part of a mooted Premier League Summer Series alongside Manchester United, West Ham United and Bournemouth in Atlanta, New Jersey and Chicago having toured the country on six separate occasions during Moyes’ first spell in charge (2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011) while they now also have American owners with the takeover by The Friedkin Group (based in Houston, Texas) having been completed in December.

The primary goal of the programme, which is aimed at advanced level boys and girls aged 13-19, is to identify and develop talented youngsters by providing them with access to advanced level coaching and training methods that are aligned with Premier League standards and designed to challenge and prepare top-tier players. The exciting new offering also opens up a direct pathway to a unique, immersive experience in the UK in 2026, where selected players will have the chance to train within Everton’s renowned Academy environment at their Finch Farm Training Centre on Merseyside.

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This opportunity, which offers unparallelled exposure to professional-level expectations and insights, underscore Everton’s dedication to crating impactful, lasting opportunities for young talent in the US and Canada. Gareth Prosser, academy director at Everton, said: “We are thrilled to extend Everton’s Academy standards and approach to youth development in the United States and Canada. The programme offers young American players an authentic taste of Premier League training, with a focus on excellence, hard work and passion for the game.”

Mark Thompson, international technical coaching manager at Everton, added: “We are committed to ensuring that each Everton program delivers the highest level of training and development, which is why we are being selective about where we establish this initiative in the USA and Canada. By choosing locations that align with our standards and values, we can provide young players with a truly impactful experience, tailored to fostering talent and growth in the right environment.”

Through a structure that focuses on technical skill development, tactical understanding and high-performance education, the Advanced Player Programme aims to:

• Enhance player skills: Offering advanced training sessions that cover all aspects of the game, enabling players to elevate their technical and tactical abilities.

• Build a pathway for talent: Identifying promising players and providing them with opportunities to participate in Everton’s global player development network.

• Instil Everton’s values and culture: Fostering a deep understanding of the club’s commitment to our core values: Ambition, Authentic, determination and Family.

• Engage local communities: Partnering with local clubs to create sustainable relationships and contribute to the growth of youth soccer in the USA and Canada.

The Advanced Player Programme, which run alongside standard Soccer Schools, includes two options in a weekly schedule.

Option A: Six hours

Option B: Eight hours

Group breakdown Is U13/14/15 and U16/17/18

To book on at one of the following locations, Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Canada, click here.

Through its International Academy, Everton Football Club is committed to fostering youth soccer development at all levels in the US and Canada, ensuring high-quality training for players from grassroots through advanced stages. The International Academy’s mission emphasises whole player growth, while instilling the club’s core values in young athletes.

Are you a coach or club interested in hosting an Everton International Academy Summer Soccer Camps in the US and Canada this summer? Click here to complete a registration of interest via the form on at the link below and a member of the team will get in touch directly.