The new agreement signed between SIA Academy and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) represents a major step in international cooperation between Spain and Saudi Arabia. It is a five-year strategic alliance whose main purpose is to promote sports, academic, and cultural exchange, leveraging the prestige of Spanish football and the growing enthusiasm for the sport in Saudi Arabia — in both its male and female categories.
The agreement establishes a comprehensive collaboration that includes training programs, player, coach, and technical staff exchanges, as well as the joint creation of projects in sports innovation, management, and technological development. Through this partnership, both institutions aim to build a global learning model where academic excellence and athletic performance go hand in hand.
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, one of the most prestigious universities in Saudi Arabia, stands out for its strong academic reputation and profound commitment to community development. In addition to offering top-level academic programs, the institution promotes sports participation among children from the age of eight and has made remarkable progress in the inclusion and professionalization of women’s sports.
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An alliance with a vision for the future
The agreement with PMU comes at a time of unprecedented sports transformation in Saudi Arabia. The country has made a decisive commitment to developing football as a tool for social and economic progress, investing in infrastructure, professionalizing leagues, and encouraging youth and female participation.
In that context, at SIA Academy we contribute our experience in high-performance football training, built upon the Spanish methodology, which is recognized worldwide for its technical, tactical, and human approach. From our perspective, this alliance is not only an exchange of knowledge but also an opportunity to build bridges between cultures.
As Edgar Carranza, the academy’s director, explained:
“This is not only about exporting a methodology, but about sharing values. PMU inspires us through its way of combining education, sport, and social responsibility. That balance is the foundation of this project.”
Beyond football: education, innovation, and community
One of the greatest achievements of this agreement is its multidimensional nature. It goes beyond training or competition to include educational and technological collaboration. Both institutions have identified several joint development areas that will expand the project’s impact.
The main initiatives include:
- The creation of academic synergies to develop technological innovation projects applied to sport, from performance analysis tools to new training methodologies.
- The opportunity for PMU students to undertake professional internships in fields such as business administration, marketing, medicine, physiotherapy, and sports management, integrated into the various programs we run in Spain.
- The design of specific spaces within SIA Academy dedicated to the residence and training of women’s teams, promoting their development in a respectful environment adapted to Saudi cultural norms.
For SIA Academy, these initiatives strengthen our mission to form not only athletes but also well-rounded individuals capable of leading both on and off the pitch.
A methodology that crosses borders
The reputation of Spanish football as a global benchmark for talent development is one of the cornerstones of this partnership. Through SIA Academy, Saudi players will experience first-hand a methodology that prioritizes tactical understanding, technical skill, and personal growth.
However, cultural and logistical adaptation will be key. For this reason, one of the first joint actions will be to study and align Saudi sports and academic calendars with SIA Academy’s training programs, ensuring a personalized experience consistent with the local context.
Athletes and professionals from PMU will have access to a wide range of programs, including the Annual Program, Next Gen, Weekly Camps, Stages, Clinics, Professional Internships, and Athletic Recovery Programs.
In addition, both institutions have agreed to organize a major launch event in Saudi Arabia in early 2026, which will take the form of an open talent identification camp. This event will mark the official start of joint activities and will help discover promising young footballers from across the Gulf region.
PMU: a university with social and sporting commitment
Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University has built an institutional identity based on innovation and community service. Its educational philosophy promotes active learning and leadership, integrating sport as an essential component of student development.
Among its most notable programs is the promotion of children’s sports and the consolidation of initiatives for the growth of women’s football, an area that has gained significant momentum in Saudi Arabia in recent years. This vision of inclusion and progress has been key in positioning PMU as a symbol of modernity and balance between tradition and social advancement.
From our academy, we deeply value that vision. We share the conviction that sport is a powerful tool to educate, unite, and transform.
A new horizon for Middle Eastern talent
The rise of football in Saudi Arabia is a tangible reality. In recent years, the country has multiplied its investments in player development, facilities, and competitions, opening doors for thousands of young people who dream of a professional career in the sport.
This agreement fits perfectly within that wave of development. SIA Academy and PMU will work together to identify, train, and support Saudi talent, offering opportunities both in the Kingdom and in Europe.
As Edgar Carranza stated during the official presentation:
“We want every young person who arrives at SIA Academy to experience something complete — not only athletic, but cultural, educational, and human. That will be the true measure of success for this alliance.”
More than an agreement, a shared vision
The commitment of both institutions goes far beyond sports results. This is a long-term cooperation project aimed at establishing a sustainable educational and athletic model based on innovation, respect, and comprehensive development.
Over the next five years, SIA Academy and Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University (PMU) will work hand in hand to develop programs that inspire new generations, foster leadership, and strengthen the ties between Spain and Saudi Arabia.
Football, education, and technology will serve as the pillars on which this new stage of international collaboration is built — a project where learning does not end on the pitch but extends to life itself.
Looking ahead
At SIA Academy, we embrace this agreement with pride and a sense of responsibility. We know it is not only an institutional opportunity but also a commitment to all the young people who believe in the power of sport to transform their future.
Together with PMU, we share a common vision: to train people with values, discipline, and passion, capable of making a difference both in football and in society. This agreement, more than a document, is a starting point.
Because when education and sport come together, the results go far beyond the scoreboard. And that is precisely the spirit that guides this alliance between Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University and SIA Academy.
