SL Benfica & FC Tokyo Forge Strategic Partnership
SL Benfica and FC Tokyo have signed a strategic technical partnership focused on developing football in Japan.
With a shared commitment to excellence in training, the collaboration aims to nurture the next generation of football talent by sharing best practices, knowledge and resources between the two clubs.
The partnership establishes a solid technical exchange programme, with Benfica’s renowned academy, the Benfica Campus, lending its expertise to help FC Tokyo strengthen its position as Japan’s development club.
Benfica’s academy is celebrated for its player-centred approach and talent cultivation. The partnership aims to broaden the opportunities for identifying and developing talent in Japan and promote the experience of young FC Tokyo players between Japan and Portugal.
By sharing the expertise of SL Benfica, FC Tokyo also expects to add new insights into the development football environment, set new standards, develop better players and achieve higher results and return on sales.
Miguel Reis, Global Expansion Coordinator at SL Benfica, emphasised the alignment of values and goals between the two clubs.
“FC Tokyo is a historic club, with ambition, vision and excellent organisation at the youth development level,” he said. “Despite our geographical distance, I think both clubs have a lot in common, as we both consider youth development to be a priority.”
Davide Gomes, Technical Coordinator of Benfica’s International Programs, noted the unique potential of the collaboration, adding: “It is a huge opportunity for Benfica to be able to work with athletes with highly appreciated characteristics, such as excellent technical level and above-average willingness capacity.
“The challenge is great, but we hope to be able to contribute a lot to making FC Tokyo the benchmark club for youth training in Japan.”
Shigeya Kawagishi, CEO of FC Tokyo, expressed enthusiasm for the new partnership and the opportunities it brings, saying: “We are very pleased to announce this partnership with SL Benfica.
“By partnering with SL Benfica, a strong team in Europe with an excellent reputation for player development and scouting, we will be able to collaborate in the strengthening department and exchange personnel at the academy.
“All J-League clubs are investing in their academies. In this context, we believe that this partnership will provide quality career options for our academy players. This will be of great benefit to our current players and will also contribute to the clubs’ future scouting and recruiting activities for their academies.
“Through the exchange of knowledge and collaboration between the two clubs in player development, FC Tokyo hopes to develop not only the academy but also the club as a whole.”
Since opening its doors in September of 2007, Benfica Campus has developed some of the biggest stars in European football.
Names like Rúben Dias, João Neves, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, Gonçalo Ramos, Renato Sanches, João Cancelo, Ederson, Jan Oblak, André Gomes, Nélson Semedo, Victor Lindelöf or Gonçalo Guedes are all a product of Benfica Campus Academy.
The strong investment made by the club in youth development resulted in several young players reaching some of the top teams of the Big 5 leagues in Europe.
