From Melbourne to Barcelona and Japan: 10-year-old Ethan Borg’s journey with Barça Academy

AT just 10 years old, Melbourne’s Ethan Borg has already lived football dreams that most young players can only imagine, representing Barça Academy internationally in Japan and later training at the heart of the club in Barcelona.

Ethan’s journey began at home, attending three Barça Academy Camps in Australia, where his passion and skills caught the attention of selection coaches. These camps opened doors beyond Australia, starting with his selection to join the Barça Academy U9 team at the APAC Cup in Japan in September 2023. There, he competed against teams from Barça academies across Japan, India, Dubai and Singapore, gaining his first taste of international competition.

Building on that experience, in March 2025 Ethan travelled to Barcelona for a 10-day Barça Academy training clinic.

He trained at the world-famous La Masia facilities, played friendlies against local Spanish clubs, explored the Barça Museum, and even attended a first-team game – a true immersion into the culture and spirit of FC Barcelona.

Stories like Ethan’s show how Barça Academy Camps in Australia and New Zealand are more than just football. They are a gateway to the world, giving kids the chance to train like Barça, travel abroad, and live football in a unique way.

For Ethan, this is only the beginning. He will continue attending Barça Academy Camps to keep improving his game and hopes to be selected again for future international experiences.

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