Arsenal Football Development Announces Educational Partnerships with Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpur, The British School of Brussels (BSB) and Braeburn International School in Nairobi

Arsenal Football Club, one of the world’s most iconic and globally recognised football clubs, announced the signing of exclusive regional partnership agreements with the Alice Smith School, Kuala Lumpur, The British School of Brussels (BSB) and Braeburn International School in Nairobi. Each partnership is the first in its respective region, providing all three schools with a uniquely privileged relationship with the Club and its Football Development team.

Delivered through Arsenal Football Development - the Club’s commercial coaching programme, it is dedicated to helping young people across the globe fulfil their potential - the partnerships combine Academy led coaching, professional development, camps and a ground-breaking digital platform to create a truly transformative experience for students and staff alike.

Mr Marc Thorogood, Senior Global Manager for Arsenal Football Development said, “Arsenal has always believed in the power of football and education working hand in hand. These partnerships represent everything Arsenal Football Development stands for - using the identity of our Club to inspire young people to fulfil their potential, wherever they are in the world. We are incredibly proud to welcome these three outstanding schools into the Arsenal family and cannot wait to get started.’’

What the Partnership Delivers

Each school will benefit from a comprehensive, multi-strand programme:

• Student Coaching Programmes: An Arsenal supported curriculum, with integrated coaching sessions for students, that will bring the Club’s Academy methodology and its Strong Young Gunner model directly into the school environment. Sessions are designed to develop technical, tactical and teamwork skills in a fun, learning environment.
• Staff Development: The partnership extends beyond the students. School staff will benefit from professional development sessions led by Arsenal coaches, equipping teachers and PE staff with new techniques, leadership insights and the tools to inspire active, healthy communities within their schools.
• Arsenal Holiday Camps: During school holidays, Arsenal Football Development coaches will deliver immersive multi-day camps open to students, designed to provide an unforgettable football experience derived from the Arsenal Academy. Blending high-quality coaching with the club's core values, students will develop confidence, resilience and teamwork in a fun, engaging learning environment.
• Arsenal Football Development E-Academy: Students and staff will have exclusive access to a bespoke digital platform designed to support, record and celebrate student activities and progress. The app provides a seamless way to track individual development and connect young people with the wider Arsenal community, keeping the excitement and motivation alive long after each session.
  
  
  Head of School, Dr John Knight with Marc Thorogood, Senior Global Manager for Arsenal Football Development 

At Alice Smith School, we are always seeking partnerships that add genuine educational value and inspire our students to aim higher. Arsenal’s Foundation work, their coaching excellence and the incredible rise of the women’s game make this partnership a perfect fit for our community in Kuala Lumpur. We cannot wait to see our students, boys and girls alike, thrive through this programme. ~ said Dr John Knight, Head of School at Alice Smith School.

Tristian Cook, Assistant Head of British School of Brussels (BSB) added, “This is a landmark moment for our school community. Our students are passionate about football and about Arsenal, and to have this calibre of coaching, development and digital innovation on our doorstep - exclusively for our region - is something truly special.”

Nick Magnus MBE, CEO of Braeburn Schools, concluded, “This partnership is truly groundbreaking. It will inspire our students, our staff, and our wider community, and we are delighted to welcome Arsenal Football Development to Africa. Football is woven into the fabric of life here, and the passion for the game is extraordinary. Arsenal has an incredibly strong following across our community, and this partnership will resonate deeply with our students and families. We are excited about the opportunities it will create and the lasting impact it will have on young people across the region.”

A Club at the Pinnacle of the World Game

These partnerships are announced at what is, quite simply, the most extraordinary moment in Arsenal’s modern history - a Club whose men’s and women’s teams have simultaneously reached the very summit of their respective games.

In May 2026, Arsenal men were crowned Premier League champions for the first time in 22 years - ending one of English football’s most celebrated long waits and confirming Mikel Arteta’s side as the finest team in the country. The title, the Club’s 14th English league championship, was secured with a fanbase of over 100 countries watching on, as football fever builds globally ahead of the FIFA World Cup. It is the perfect moment for a generation of young boys to see their heroes at the top of the game.

And in May 2025, Arsenal Women were crowned UEFA Women’s Champions League winners, defeating FC Barcelona 1-0 in Lisbon - the only English women's club to win the Champions League which they accomplished for the second time in their history. The Club was subsequently honoured as Women’s Club of the Year at the 2025 Ballon d’Or awards and went on to win the FIFA Women’s Champion’s Cup in 2026 beating Brazilian side Corinthians in the final. With over 56,000 fans packing Emirates Stadium for women’s league matches and the game capturing the imagination of a new generation, Arsenal Women are inspiring millions of young girls around the world to pick up a ball and dream big.

At this moment, there is no club on earth that offers young people - boys and girls alike - more to aspire to than Arsenal.

Inspiring the Next Generation

This is a partnership for every student. Whether a young boy dreaming of lifting the Premier League trophy or a young girl inspired by Champions League glory, these programmes will ensure that football - and everything it teaches about discipline, teamwork, resilience and ambition - is genuinely, joyfully, for everyone.