English club Fulham considers opening a football academy in New Tashkent

Fulham FC to explore possibility of a football academy in New Tashkent

English football club Fulham has announced its readiness to consider the possibility of establishing a football academy in New Tashkent using British experience and standards. This was reported by the Dunyo news agency, which Gazeta.uz cites.

What was agreed at the meeting

The matter was discussed at a meeting between Uzbekistan's Ambassador to the UK Ravshan Usmonov and embassy diplomats with the club's head of football development Hugh Jennings and commercial manager Brett McGoldrick. As Kun.uz notes, the diplomats briefed the club's leadership on measures to develop football in Uzbekistan, including identifying and supporting young talent, as well as on the creation of modern sports infrastructure. Particular attention was given to the New Tashkent construction project and plans to develop sports facilities on its territory.

Outcome of the talks

According to sources, Fulham's leadership said it was ready to explore the prospects of establishing an academy in New Tashkent based on British experience and standards. Following the meeting, the parties agreed to develop concrete mechanisms of cooperation to implement this initiative. The publications do not disclose the timeline, funding format, or legal structure of the future project — so far, the discussion concerns only a readiness to explore the possibility, not a decision that has been made.

Context and significance

The New Tashkent project and its sports infrastructure became the central point of the talks, indicating the club's particular interest in this area of the capital. For Uzbek football, an academy built to British standards could expand opportunities for training young players, whose identification and support the diplomats described to the club. The practical next step will be to develop agreed cooperation mechanisms, but the parties have not yet announced any commitments or timelines.