Youth academy

The academy is a cheaper route to your own players than the market. Youngsters grow up at the club and move to the first team when they are ready.

Where to start

1. Build the academy — the "Build the academy" button on the "Youth team" page or in "Buildings". It has up to 5 levels: a higher level gives more places, better youngsters and faster development (upgrading buildings).
2. Buy a scout licence. It is a one-off purchase and the money is not refunded. Without a licence you cannot send a scout.

Youngsters arrive in two ways: the academy brings in a few by itself once a week, and the scout finds the rest.

Scout and trips

1. Press "Send scout". A trip costs money — the price is on the button. The number of trips per week is limited and grows with the academy level; the "Trips this week" counter is next to it.
2. After about 2 hours the scout returns with a report, and the game sends you a notification.
3. In the report, pick candidates and press "Sign". You can sign only those for whom the academy has a free place.

"New trip" closes the current report: unsigned candidates disappear, so take the ones you need first. Candidate quality depends on the scout in "Staff" and the scout office, while the academy level lifts the average ones (staff roles).

Development

Every youngster has a development bar from 0 to 100%. It grows daily — faster with a higher academy level, a stronger head coach and more talent. Every week youngsters also receive experience from the head coach, and once a week they get a year older.

What happened to a youngster is shown in the "Development chronicle".

Promotion to the first team

• Manually — when development reaches 100%, "Promo to squad" appears. Promotion costs money (a contract), needs a free place in the squad, and you can change the player's first-team position.
• Automatically — once a youngster reaches graduation age, he moves to the squad by himself, even if his development bar is not full. If money or a place is missing, he stays in the academy until the next attempt. His age is shown on his card.

Release

"Release" removes a youngster from the academy for good and without compensation. Do it when you need a place for a better candidate.

Tips

• The academy does not pay off at once: the first graduates come in a few weeks, not tomorrow.
• Do not keep weak youngsters in a full academy — they take the place of better candidates.
• A strong head coach speeds up both team training and youth development.