Venture Sports USA / U19 club academies
European
Pathway.
Your gap year. Your club. Your next chapter.
Three countries. Three football cultures.
01 / The program
A gap year.
Not a year off.
A full season living in Europe as an academy footballer. Choose Portugal, Slovenia or Ireland, join a U19 club academy and build your week around training, competitive football and life in a new country.
It is designed for players who have finished high school and want one decisive year of football before their next step — a pro contract, a college program or another season in Europe. Venture Sports handles the visa, housing, meals, transport and insurance, so the only thing you focus on is your game.
Lisbon / Porto / Portimão
Portugal
Ljubljana / Maribor
Slovenia
Dublin / Cork / Galway
Ireland
5 or 10 months
Packages
01
Train like a pro
Weekly sessions with a U19 club academy, coached inside a professional club structure with access to its facilities.
02
Compete every weekend
A registered place in the national U19 competition, playing against the academies of top-flight clubs.
03
Grow off the pitch
Live independently in a European city, build discipline and maturity, and gain a perspective that stays with you for life.
02 / The four pillars
01
Grow
A year abroad to mature, gain independence and live in a new culture. You learn to manage your own life — training, meals, travel and downtime — in a country that isn't yours yet.
02
Develop
Personal and athletic development inside a U19 club academy environment. Professional coaching, structured training weeks and competitive matches against other academies.
03
Learn the language
Study Portuguese or Slovenian depending on the country you choose, with daily life pushing you to use it. In Ireland the program is in English.
04
Your next step
A pathway toward professional football — or a return to college with a European experience on your résumé. Either way, you leave with more than you arrived with.
Who it's for
- Players who have finished high school and want a dedicated football year
- Athletes aiming for professional, college or academy opportunities
- Players eligible for U19 academy football
- Anyone ready to live abroad and commit fully to their development
The club environment
Real clubs.
Real competition.
Club profile / Portugal
Os Belenenses
Belém, Lisbon
Founded in 1919, Belenenses is rooted in Lisbon's Belém neighbourhood and plays at the Estádio do Restelo.
Club backgroundClubs in the country's football landscape, not a confirmed placement list. Your club, age-group eligibility and competition depend on assessment, registration and availability.
03 / Venture Sports USA
Your ambition.
Our commitment.
Support athletes in reaching their potential and create experiences for a lifetime.
- International sports agency
- Committed to soccer development
- Helping athletes succeed on and off the field
10+
Partner clubs
2
Countries
4
Academy cities
500+
Athletes placed
Venture / On and off the pitch
We know the process — because we lived it
Venture Sports USA is led by former student-athletes who turned their own pathway into one for the next generation — connecting young players directly with academy and pro clubs across Portugal and Slovenia.
“The focus and the personal touch that I get from João is exceptional. I owe a lot of my success to him — it's been a great journey since we started working together.”
Henrique Santos
Venture athlete
Why Venture
Pro club pathway
A clear route from academy football to a pro contract.
European exposure
Compete weekly in real European academy football.
Club network
Direct links with pro and academy clubs in Portugal and Slovenia.
Full support team
People on the ground for you, on and off the field.
Personalized service
Your goals shape your city, club and plan.
Authentic recruitment
A real recruitment process — no shortcuts.
From first contact to kickoff
Player assessment
Select a country, city, dates and academy.
Curated itinerary
We handle logistics and arrangements for you.
Decision
Pick the teams and opportunities that fit your goals.
Prep & travel
Finalize your preparation and begin your academy placement.
04 / Hall of fame
Some of our players
01 / 20
Real results
Players who took the pathway with Venture.
MLS SuperDraft · Italy
A global network
Venture Americas
USA · Canada · Mexico · Trinidad & Tobago · Barbados · Brazil · Chile
Venture Europe
Portugal · Spain · France · Italy · Germany · Slovenia · Croatia · Czech Republic · England · Norway · Switzerland
Venture Africa
Egypt · Morocco · South Africa · Ivory Coast
Venture Asia & Middle East
Dubai · Indonesia
Questions?
Young players who want a full season at U19 academy level in Europe, aiming for a pro contract.