Players from 7 Elite Academy and AFC Liverpool will face La Liga giants Villarreal Academy in Las Vegas during a tour of the United States next month.

The youngsters, who all train with 7 Elite Academy UK in Liverpool as part of the Player Pathway program, face the Spanish outfit in Nevada on February 5th.

The series of games come just days after the 7 Elite Academy International Tournament in Utah, which this year includes 400 teams, with players from Australia, Spain, Canada, the UK and USA.

Anthony Godfrey, 7 Elite Academy Director, believes the games will cap a remarkable football and educational tour of the region for the Liverpool-based youngsters.

He said: “To play a club like Villarreal is a fantastic opportunity for these players and I want them to make the most of it. They will be playing in front of coaches that have been hand-picked by the La Liga club.

“They will be arriving in Nevada just after playing in the 7 Elite Academy International Tournament, so it is going to be a busy schedule for them. We want to make the most of their time in America.

“The tour will also include visits to local college and professional clubs, so they can get a taste of what’s on offer. They will make contacts that could result in college scholarship and club contracts.

“This is the biggest tour of the United States that we’ve staged since our formation in 2017 and with over 50 players travelling from the UK, it is going to be spectacular.”

Players from 7 Elite Academy and AFC Liverpool will fly out to Nevada on January 31st, including Under-18s, Under-16s and Under-14s, following a six-month fundraising exercise.

They will be joined by a separate squad of players from Steven Gerrard Academy, as part of the biggest ever travelling contingent to play at the 7 Elite Academy International Tournament.

Anthony added: “Our Player Pathway works with young people in both the UK and USA to create football and educational opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.

“We regularly see players from the UK gain college scholarships and join clubs in America, while there has also been a steady stream of players from the USA joining academies in Britain.

“These players have worked hard in their local communities over the last six months to raise funds for there trip and they fully deserve the opportunities that will now come.”