Key working group meetings, an academy visits at the home of Club Atlético de Madrid and the thrilling conclusion of the UEFA Club Competitions for the 2024/25 season ensured it was a May to remember at ECA.
ECA Working Groups Drive Key Football Priorities
With most domestic football seasons ending in Europe, three of ECA’s key Working Groups covering Women’s Football, Commercial & Innovation and Sustainability came together to continue shaping the future of the game. These expert forums, made up of experts from across ECA’s membership, provide a space for clubs to share knowledge, exchange ideas and help drive meaningful progress in their respective areas. Whether discussing strategic priorities or hands-on challenges, the meetings highlighted the essential role Working Groups play in ensuring ECA’s activities reflect the real-life experiences and ambitions of its Member Clubs.
ECA Sustainability Roadshow Advances in Italy and Romania
The most recent stops on the ECA Sustainability Roadshow saw club representatives and sustainability managers gather in Italy and Romania for two productive days of exchange and collaboration. Organised in collaboration with UEFA, the sessions provided a platform to discuss shared challenges around licensing, EU regulations and sustainability goals.
Alonside this, ECA had a presence at the UEFA Respect Forum 2025 in Switzerland, which brought the wider football community together to drive collective action on sustainability. ECA CEO, Charlie Marshall, spoke at the event in Zurich and underlined the need to recognise the diverse realities of our 750 Member Clubs – from global giants to grassroots pioneers. ECA Head of Sustainability, Gaia Pretner, led a practical workshop on club development with national associations, leagues and clubs.
ECA Academy Visit in Madrid Inspires Youth Development
Over 90 club representatives from across Europe gathered in Madrid for our latest ECA Academy Visit, hosted by Club Atlético de Madrid. The two-day event offered valuable insights into Atlético’s academy model, covering leadership, coaching and long-term talent development. For many of our small and medium-sized member clubs, the visit proved especially useful, offering practical takeaways and inspiration to enhance their own youth systems through shared expertise and collaboration.
Club Engagement in Denmark
ECA continued to engage with Member Clubs with a Club Meet-Up at Nature Energy Park, home of Danish side Odense BK. The session offered valuable insight into ECA’s latest developments, including governance updates, membership services and key frameworks with FIFA and UEFA. With strong representation from member clubs, the discussion also focused on youth development and UEFA Club Competitions access and distribution of funds.
Sporting Director Programme Wraps Up in Nyon
The ECA–UEFA Academy Sporting Director Programme concluded with a final seminar in Nyon. Led by former Newcastle United Sporting Director Paul Mitchell and Raúl Sanllehí Co-President (Inter Miami CF), participants explored innovation, tech and coach recruitment before graduating at UEFA HQ.
World Football Day
With over 750 clubs of all sizes in our network, ECA couldn’t let World Football Day pass without celebration. Our staff came together at our headquarters in Nyon, proudly wearing their favourite club kits and sharing in the passion – unity and joy that football brings to people all around the world.
ECA Highlights Talent Trends at iWorkinSport Convention
As part of our outreach in May, ECA took part in the 2025 iWorkinSport Convention and Job Fair in Lausanne. ECA Director of Football, Diederik Dewaele, delivered the closing keynote, while our HR & Recruitment Lead, Raoul Tondini, joined a panel discussing the latest trends shaping talent in the football industry.
London City Lionesses Join ECA to Boost Women’s Football
London City Lionesses became the latest club to join the European Club Association, marking a significant milestone for the growing women’s game in Europe. As the UK’s first independent professional women’s football club, the Lionesses have rapidly established themselves as trailblazers both on and off the pitch, securing promotion to the Barclays Women’s Super League and investing in elite facilities and community engagement. Their ECA membership strengthens the collective voice advocating for sustainable growth and excellence in women’s football, reflecting the association’s ongoing commitment to supporting ambitious clubs driving the future of the game.
UC3 Seal Key Broadcast Deals
May also saw two key deals concluded by the joint venture between ECA and UEFA, UC3. First, there was confirmation of a landmark agreement between UC3 and streaming service Disney + which will see the platform become the home of the UEFA Women’s Champions League across Europe from the 2025/26 season through to 2030. The five-year deal will ensure that each of the 75 matches in the newly expanded competition is available to Disney+ customers in Europe at no additional cost.
In addition, CBS Sports has been confirmed as the home for the UEFA Women’s Champions League till 2030. The deal will see CBS Sports as the home for both the men’s and female editions of the competition in the U.S.
UEFA Club Competition Champions Celebrate Historic Wins
Finally, ECA would like to congratulate our Member Clubs Arsenal Women FC, Chelsea FC, Paris Saint-Germain, and Tottenham Hotspur FC, on their impressive victories in the finals of their respective UEFA Club Competitions. Their achievements reflect the strength and ambition within our membership and continue to elevate the standards of football across Europe.