Paris FC Unveils Major Training Center Expansion Project Backed by New Shareholders and Regional Partners.

Roger Hampel

Image: Paris FC

Paris FC has presented an ambitious expansion and modernisation plan for its training centre in Orly, marking one of the club’s most significant infrastructure projects to date. Supported by the Île-de-France Region, the Val-de-Marne Department, the Métropole du Grand Paris and several partner municipalities, the project reflects the club’s accelerated sporting and economic development following its recent rise to Ligue 1 and expansion of its women’s programme in the Première Ligue Féminine.

The announcement also comes in the first full year of Paris FC’s new ownership era, following investments from Agache Sport (the Arnault family) and Red Bull, who have backed the project as part of a long-term plan to strengthen the club’s structure, competitiveness and territorial presence.

A Strategic Infrastructure Project for Club and Region

Presented in a press conference attended by Valérie Pécresse (President, Île-de-France Region), Olivier Capitanio (President, Val-de-Marne Department), Quentin Gesell (Vice-President for Sport, Métropole du Grand Paris), Antoine Arnault (representing the club’s ownership) and Paris FC President Pierre Ferracci, the project aims to transform the club’s Orly site into a high-performance hub meeting top-tier professional standards.

The expansion will double the centre’s footprint from 8 to 16 hectares, integrating five new training pitches and allowing the consolidation of all professional men’s and women’s squads, as well as the academy, onto one site. Beyond football, the redevelopment includes major upgrades to the adjacent Parc du Grand Godet, reinforcing the project’s territorial dimension.

Working in coordination with local municipalities, Paris FC will also contribute to the creation of two new public parks — Parc du Bouvray (4 ha) in Orly and Parc Nungesser (9 ha) in Villeneuve-le-Roi — expanding community access to green and recreational spaces.

Institutional Backing and Regional Integration

The Île-de-France Region, already a key supporter of Paris FC’s women’s football initiatives, is contributing to both the training centre expansion and the recently completed women’s academy facility, scheduled for inauguration in early 2026.

Regional and municipal partners see the project as an opportunity to reinforce the club’s anchoring in Val-de-Marne while strengthening local infrastructure, accessibility and employment. The public–private collaboration highlights a growing trend across Europe, where football infrastructure is increasingly tied to urban development objectives and community services rather than solely sporting performance.

Image: Paris FC

Environmental and Sustainability Standards

The new centre incorporates a strong environmental agenda, complying with RE2020 building standards and introducing biosourced materials, low-energy LED lighting, digital energy optimisation and water-recovery systems. Roofs will be fully vegetated, and the site will include photovoltaic installations, rainwater harvesting and measures to limit construction-related disturbance.

By integrating ecological requirements into a major sporting facility, Paris FC aligns with broader sustainability expectations placed on elite clubs by public authorities, investors and European football regulators.

A Socially Inclusive and Employment-Oriented Project

Paris FC emphasises that the redevelopment is not solely a performance-driven initiative but also a social project. The centre will reinforce connections with schools, local associations and youth programmes, aiming to provide new pathways for education, inclusion and grassroots engagement.

The project is also expected to create direct and indirect employment in coaching, facility management, logistics, security, catering and youth services. Recruitment policies will prioritise local employment pools in coordination with municipal partners and workforce integration organisations.

Leadership Perspective

Club president Pierre Ferracci described the project as a “strong symbol of a club that is growing and structuring itself”, highlighting its role in unifying all Paris FC teams on a single site and creating a benchmark facility for future generations.

Antoine Arnault, representing the Arnault family ownership, stressed the importance of expanding infrastructure to match the club’s ambitions and expressed commitment to maintaining a strong local identity and public partnerships. Regional leaders, including Valérie Pécresse and Olivier Capitanio, underlined the project’s impact on territorial attractiveness, gender equality in sport and long-term regional development.

Key Numerical Highlights of the Expansion

• Total surface area: 16 hectares (up from 8)

• Extension: +8 hectares provided by Parc du Grand Godet

• Training pitches: 8 in total (5 new)

• Convention duration: 10 years, renewable twice (public land occupation agreement)

• New public parks: Parc du Bouvray (4 ha), Parc Nungesser (9 ha)

• Women’s academy centre: 1,420 m², capacity for 33 players, with performance, medical and video facilities

  
  

A Long-Term Anchor for Paris FC’s Sporting Model

The expansion of the Orly training centre represents a foundational step in Paris FC’s strategy to build a sustainable Ligue 1 organisation with local anchoring and modern professional standards. Supported jointly by private investors and public institutions, the project positions the club to meet the sporting, organisational and territorial demands of top-flight football in France.