Young football players training together in a development environment

A worldwide football community

Create a future.
Give a future.

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity should be too.

NEXTGEN creates responsible routes from overlooked talent to real opportunity in football, education and life. We identify talent, remove barriers, protect players and help successful players open doors for the next generation.

Apply as a player Explore pathways

Player firstDevelopment before promisesProtection at every step

01Player or family

Find the pathway that fits your football level, circumstances and goals.

Start player application → 02Club, academy or football professional

Connect with NEXTGEN through development, scouting, coaching or pathway cooperation.

Join the football network → 03Donor or sponsor

Help remove financial barriers and strengthen the environments around talented players.

Help fund opportunity →

How NEXTGEN works

From talent identification to lasting impact.

Our goal is not only to help talented young players progress in football. We support the person behind the player and aim to create lasting impact in the communities they come from.

01Talent identificationAccess
02DevelopmentProtection
03OpportunityLong term support
04SuccessGive Back
05New opportunities & stronger communities

CREATE A FUTURE. GIVE A FUTURE.

Opportunity should multiply. Success can help open the next door.

What NEXTGEN does

Develop the player. Protect the person. Build the opportunity.

01 · DEVELOP

Player development

Focused training, performance review, tactical learning, mindset, mentoring and preparation for a stronger football level.

Explore development → 02 · PROTECT

Player protection

Clear communication, safeguarding, transparent agreements and responsible representation standards for players and families.

Read protection standards → 03 · CONNECT

Credible pathways

Academy, NEXTGEN Africa Team and sponsored routes that connect ready players with the right development environment.

Explore pathways →

A pathway beyond football

We build around the player, the family and the future.

NEXTGEN is built for more than one trial, transfer or contract. For selected players, we work with the player and family on a long term development and protection plan that can grow from football and welfare support into professional guidance and preparation for life after football.

Create a Future.

Develop the talent. Protect the person. Support the family. Build the pathway.

Give a Future.

When players in NEXTGEN’s formal long term framework achieve meaningful success, that success can help create opportunities for the next generation.

The detailed structure is handled privately with the player, family and appropriate independent professionals.

Three player pathways

Three clear routes. One player review.

You do not need to apply three times or decide everything before you start. Submit one player profile and tell us which route interests you. NEXTGEN then reviews the football evidence, readiness, circumstances and access needs before recommending the most realistic next step.

Self funded route

European Academy Pathway

Structured academy development for players and families able to invest in the right environment in Europe.

Explore the European route → Africa development route

NEXTGEN Africa Team

A selected route for high potential African players who need stronger coaching, competition and evaluation before the next step.

Explore the Africa Team → Talent supported route

From application to a realistic next step.

Share the player profile

Tell us who the player is, where they play and what they are looking for.

Show football evidence

Match footage and current football context help us understand the level.

Review the fit

We look at readiness, pathway fit, circumstances and available opportunities.

Receive the next step

The outcome may be a deeper review, a pathway recommendation or an honest development response.

Player application

Five short steps. One clear player profile.

We ask for football and contact information only. Do not upload passports, medical files, banking information or full contracts through this public form.

Under 18?

A parent or legal guardian must be part of the application. The form automatically asks for guardian details when the player is a minor.

Leave empty

Step 1 of 5

1. About the player

Applying asPlayer full nameCountryCityPlayer agePlayers under 18 require parent or legal guardian details.Preferred contact language

2. Football profile

Primary positionStrong footCurrent club or academy

Highlight video linkFull match video link

3. Pathway & circumstances

What opportunity are you looking for?Funding situation for the proposed pathwayThis helps NEXTGEN understand whether a self funded or supported route may be appropriate. It does not determine the player’s football evaluation.

Preferred first destinationWhat should NEXTGEN understand about the player’s talent, mindset, discipline and circumstances?

4. Contact & guardian

Contact emailPhone / WhatsApp

Parent or legal guardian details

Required because the player is under 18.

Guardian full nameRelationship to playerGuardian emailGuardian phone / WhatsApp

I confirm that I am the parent / legal guardian, or that the parent / legal guardian has authorised this application and contact route.

5. Review & consent

Before submitting, make sure the contact information is correct and the football links can be opened.

I confirm that I have permission to submit the player information and football footage included in this application. I understand that an application is an assessment request and does not itself guarantee selection, funding, travel, registration, a trial or a contract. I authorise NEXTGEN to share the player profile and football video links with relevant clubs, academies, scouts and pathway professionals where NEXTGEN believes this may support assessment or an appropriate opportunity. I understand that this does not guarantee selection, a trial or a contract. For a player under 18, a parent or legal guardian must approve this sharing and remain involved.

Privacy summary: required fields are needed to assess and respond to the application. Optional fields may be left blank. If another person submits player information, they must have authority to do so and should give the player or guardian the privacy notice. Football footage is assessed for the application; submission alone does not authorise public promotion. No player selection decision is made solely by automated processing. Read the privacy notice

I have read the privacy notice and understand that NEXTGEN will use this information to assess the application, contact the player or guardian about relevant next steps and keep an appropriate application record.

Read the privacy notice and player protection standards.

Player journeys

Real journeys. Different starting points.

See how players moved through development, difficult decisions and stronger football environments over time.

View all stories Apply to be next

Ghana · Scouting and transition route

Andrew Appiah-Kubi

Ghana scouting → Andalucía assessment → CP Mijas-Las Lagunas → promotion to Segunda Federación

A recent example of scouting, adaptation, responsible registration planning and a first senior season that ended with promotion.

Player journey →

South Africa · Long term development route

Lesedi Steve Alset

Academy development → Vázquez Cultural → CD Tudelano → Torremolinos / Mijas → Torremolinos → CP Mijas Las Lagunas

A long term pathway from academy development into elite youth football, Segunda Federación and two promotion winning senior teams in Spain.

Player journey →

Ghana · European development route

Mawuli Kwame Mensah Vadze

Academy development → elite U19 football → Antequera CF → Betis Deportivo → Real Zaragoza → AD Ceuta FC

A donor supported teenage route built around patience, education, eligibility and continuous football development before senior opportunities arrived.

Player journey →

NEXTGEN News & Insights

Latest from NEXTGEN.

Foundation news, player journeys, network growth and practical football insight from the work behind NEXTGEN.

View all News & Insights →

Four NEXTGEN Africa Team players standing in a stadium beneath an applications are open message.

Player Pathways15 August 2026

NEXTGEN Africa Team officially launches and applications are now open

NEXTGEN Africa Team brings selected African U18 and U19 players together in Guinea for structured assessment, competitive matches and continued pathway support. Applications are now open.

Read story →

Chris Vermeeren standing with Michael Ballack, Ali Campbell and Clarence Seedorf at the Goal4Africa event in Munich.

Foundation Story22 August 2026

From Goal4Africa to NEXTGEN Foundation: A Vision Rebuilt for the Next Generation

In 2008, Chris Vermeeren brought football, education and African opportunity together through Goal4Africa. Today, as Founder of NEXTGEN Foundation, he is building the next chapter of that mission through responsible, player first pathways.

Read story →