Borussia Dortmund Opens First International Academy in Africa With Launch in Ghana.

Roger Hampel

Image: Borussia Dortmund

Borussia Dortmund has expanded its international youth development footprint with the opening of the BVB International Academy Ghana, marking the club’s first official academy on the African continent.

Launched in February 2026, the new academy is based in Accra and forms part of Borussia Dortmund’s global academy network. The initiative represents a strategic step in the club’s long-term approach to international talent development, combining football education with structured personal development.

Strategic Expansion of BVB’s Global Academy Network Borussia Dortmund

The Ghana academy is designed to provide young players with a structured training environment aligned with Borussia Dortmund’s youth development philosophy and educational standards. Alongside football-specific training, the programme places emphasis on values such as teamwork, discipline, responsibility, and sustainable long-term development. The move strengthens Dortmund’s presence in a region historically linked to the club through former players such as Otto Addo and Ibrahim Tanko.

Local Integration and Long-Term Development Focus

According to the club, the BVB International Academy Ghana will operate in close coordination with local partners and institutions, with the objective of supporting grassroots football development rather than extracting talent for immediate export.

This model reflects a broader shift among elite European clubs toward academy-led internationalisation, where clubs seek to build sustainable development ecosystems abroad instead of relying solely on episodic talent identification.

Executive Comments

Benedikt Scholz, Director Internationalisation and Managing Director of the BVB Football Academy, highlighted the strategic relevance of the Ghana launch:

“With the opening of the BVB International Academy Ghana, we are sending a strong signal in a market with which Borussia Dortmund has been connected for many years. Together with our local partners, we aim to build sustainable structures for the development of young footballers step by step.”

Operational Oversight and Global Alignment

The official opening in early February was attended by Florian Ingwersen, Head of Global Football Development, and Michael Rütten, Head of Coaching at the BVB Evonik Football Academy. Their presence underlines the club’s intention to maintain consistent coaching standards and pedagogical alignment across its international academy locations.

The launch of the BVB International Academy Ghana highlights the increasing strategic importance of Africa within European youth development frameworks. As competition for elite young talent intensifies globally, clubs are investing earlier in education, infrastructure, and local engagement.