Soccer players celebrating on the field.

International Soccer Academy and La Liga’s Girona FC Launch Residential Program for American Players

NEW YORK, Apr. 7, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — For high-level American players seeking to elevate their game, a new exclusive residential program offers an authentic pathway to train and compete within a top-tier European environment. International Soccer Academy (ISA) and La Liga’sGirona FC have announced this partnership, providing an unparalleled opportunity for player development in Spain, a country renowned for its technical style of play and tactical sophistication. This initiative allows American soccer players to fully immerse themselves in the professional setting of a progressive La Liga club.

To learn more about this program and application details, please visit Gap Year at La Liga’s Girona FC.

“This partnership strengthens our commitment to development and to the Club’s international projection,” said Girona FC CEO Ignasi Mas-Bagà. “Offering international players the opportunity to learn about our methodology and to integrate into our sporting environment is a way of extending Girona FC’s values beyond our territory. This program allows us to open Girona to the world while, at the same time, enriching our environment with young players who come to learn, to compete, and to share their passion for football. It is an initiative that fully reflects who we are as a club: open, modern, and driven by a clear ambition for growth.”

Two men in green shirts talk to a seated audience in a modern stadium lounge.

USMNT Stars Gio Reyna and Joe Scally Mentor International Soccer Academy Players at Borussia Mönchengladbach

NEW YORK, Dec. 5, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International Soccer Academy (ISA) North American players met with U.S. Men’s National Team (USMNT) and Borussia Mönchengladbach standouts Gio Reyna and Joe Scally for a private mentorship and Q&A at the Bundesliga club.

Held for ISA youth soccer players who train daily in Germany on the Borussia Mönchengladbach–ISA Integrated Academy team, the session delivered firsthand guidance on the U.S.-to-Bundesliga journey — and real insight into the habits, mindset, and consistency required to succeed as a professional soccer player.

Reyna and Scally spoke candidly about their paths from American youth soccer to professional life in Germany as teenagers, emphasizing maturity, consistency, and the daily standards that separate prospects from pros.

A soccer team posing together in a stadium, wearing gray jackets.

Integrated Residential Academy Team Officially Opened

27.08.2025

The Foals, in partnership with the International Soccer Academy, welcomed 20 U18 footballers from the USA and Canada to BORUSSIA-PARK last weekend for the official start.

The project began with a welcome event at BORUSSIA-PARK on Saturday, and is central to Borussia’s international engagement, combining both sporting and personal development. After a stadium tour, which gave the players their first impression of their new home, managing director Markus Aretz officially welcomed the team during dinner, and emphasised how special this project was to the club.

The opening weekend’s itinerary included the first training session, as well as going to watch the Foals’ Bundesliga home game against HSV – an experience that impressed the youngsters, who were given their first live taste of the atmosphere at BORUSSIA-PARK.

Soccer player in white and green Borussia Mönchengladbach jersey on the field.

Borussia Mönchengladbach and International Soccer Academy launch partnership to develop U.S. talent

As part of this long-term collaboration, starting in August 2025, 20 U18 players will live and train in Mönchengladbach each year, developing their skills under professional conditions.

This partnership is a key component of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s long-term internationalisation strategy, with the U.S. market playing a significant role. “Youth development is an essential pillar of our sustainable market entry in the U.S.,” emphasises Guido Uhle, authorised representative of Borussia Mönchengladbach. “Beyond developing young talent, this partnership offers strategic opportunities to establish our brand, expand partnerships, and strengthen our connection with fans and the soccer market in the U.S.”

A man in a black sports jacket with Borussia Mönchengladbach logo.

Borussia Mönchengladbach Appoints Jens Bäumer as Head Coach of the Club’s Integrated Academy Team

by Diane Scavuzzo
July 7, 2025

International Soccer Academy’s new Borussia Mönchengladbach Integrated Academy team is set to launch this August under the leadership of highly experienced German coach Jens Bäumer. With a professional playing career spanning Germany’s top three leagues and fresh off of winning the Germant U17 Bundesliga Championship, Bäumer brings invaluable expertise to the academy’s mission of developing elite American youth players in Europe. Borussia Mönchengladbach U17s beat five-time champions Bayern Munich 3-1 to defeat RB Leipzig in the final.

Borussia Mönchengladbach academy’s rise to top tier power is no longer just on the horizon—it’s here.

SoccerToday caught up with Coach Bäumer to learn more about his background, coaching philosophy, and what excites him most as he takes the reins of the inaugural Integrated Academy team at Gladbach.

Man in a white Puma jacket engaged in conversation outdoors.

New Integrated Academy Team for Borussia

July 4, 2025

Borussia Mönchengladbach has announced a key appointment for its newly established American Integrated Academy Team. Jens Bäumer, previously assistant coach of Borussia’s U17 side and newly crowned German U17 Champion, has been promoted to head coach of the team.

This appointment comes as part of Borussia’s recently announced partnership with the International Soccer Academy (ISA). The aim of the project is to support and develop promising young talents from the United States.

Jens Bäumer brings extensive experience from youth football to the role and is also very familiar with the US football landscape, having spent several years working in various positions within football development in the United States. His expertise will help prepare the 20 players of the new U18 team for the sporting and cultural demands of life in Germany.

A youth soccer team posing with Sevilla FC flags.

An incredible experience

Parker Byas and Gavyn Nobles joined Sevilla FC D training last March and, now that the season is over, they are taking stock of their time at the club.

Parker, a native of Maryland (United States), describes this stage as “an absolutely incredible season” in which he has been able to “share locker rooms with kids from all over the world” and in which it has been a “pleasure to play for and with Sevilla FC.” He says he’s looking forward to “coming back next season, doing more, and making a bigger impact.”

Likewise, center back Gavyn Nobles believes his time at Sevilla FC “exceeded his expectations,” emphasizing that everything about the club’s day-to-day operations “has seemed great,” that ” he has felt integrated and part of a family from day one ,” and that he is ready to return to the team next season.

Soccer players celebrating a goal during a match.

Borussia Mönchengladbach & International Soccer Academy Announce First-Ever Full Soccer Scholarship for American Youth Player

MÖNCHENGLADBACH, Germany and NEW YORK, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — In a bold move to expand elite player development opportunities for North American talent, International Soccer Academy has partnered with Bundesliga powerhouse Borussia Mönchengladbach to launch a fully funded scholarship for one exceptionally gifted American player (born in 2008 or 2009) for the 2025–26 season.

As of April 10, 2025, Borussia Mönchengladbach is ranked 6th in the Bundesliga standings with 44 points after 28 matches.  They are scheduled to play SC Freiburg, who are currently in 7th place with 42 points, on April 12, 2025.

This groundbreaking initiative breaks the pay-to-play mold by offering a complete 9-month residential soccer academy experience in Germany — tuition-free. The scholarship covers housing, training, kits, meals, and academic support — everything except the flight to and from Germany.

Collage of various American TV news channel logos.

International Soccer Academy and Borussia Mönchengladbach Partnership News Picked Up By 630 Media Channels Copy

NEW YORK, Jan. 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — International Soccer Academy proudly announces an exclusive partnership with Bundesliga powerhouse, Borussia Mönchengladbach, one of Germany’s most successful football clubs. This collaboration creates a direct pathway for top U.S. youth players to develop their skills at the highest level, offering a rare opportunity to train and compete within the club’s renowned academy system. Together, International Soccer Academy & Borussia Mönchengladbach will scout elite youth soccer players to join their new Integrated U18 Academy team in Germany.

A Genuine Pathway to the Pros

For elite North American youth soccer players born in 2008 and 2009, this groundbreaking initiative provides a once-in-a-lifetime chance to live, train, and play in Germany for a full season—fully immersed in Borussia Mönchengladbach’s professional development environment. With a focus on high-performance training and top-tier competition, this program is designed to cultivate the next generation of soccer stars.

Integrated Residential Academy Partner with International Soccer Academy.

Borussia Mönchengladbach and International Soccer Academy launch partnership to develop U.S. talent

Borussia Mönchengladbach has entered into an exclusive partnership with the International Soccer Academy to foster the development of promising young talent from the United States. As part of this long-term collaboration, starting in August 2025, 20 U18 players will live and train in Mönchengladbach each year, developing their skills under professional conditions.

This partnership is a key component of Borussia Mönchengladbach’s long-term internationalisation strategy, with the U.S. market playing a significant role. “Youth development is an essential pillar of our sustainable market entry in the U.S.,” emphasizes Guido Uhle, authorized representative of Borussia Mönchengladbach. “Beyond developing young talent, this partnership offers strategic opportunities to establish our brand, expand partnerships, and strengthen our connection with fans and the soccer market in the U.S.”

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