Binding: Paperback
Date Published: 23 Sep 2025
FROM THE PLAYGROUND TO THE PREMIER LEAGUE
Born and raised in a small town in the United States, Leo K. Doyle has never seen the ocean or stepped foot on a plane. But Leo is a star footballer with big dreams in life.
Rock-star, Olympic gold, dragon-slaying dreams.
While Leo has a pet lizard named Messi and longs to one day go pro, he has no idea how to achieve his goal - until a professional scout pays a chance visit to one of Leo's games and extends an invitation to try out for the London Dragons youth squad, known as The Academy.
Leo is stunned. The London Dragons isn't just any old football club. It's a world-famous Premier League club. Soon Leo is off to a whole new country, embarking on the greatest adventure of his life. The downside? Only eleven players can make the team.
Eleven out of two hundred of the very best youth players on the planet.
Along with the gruelling competition, Leo must also face a bully intent on torpedoing his summer, a roomie who doesn't know how to have fun, a terrifying camp director, and, most of all, Leo's own lack of formal training and the fear he'll never succeed. By the end of the summer, Leo will become a much better player and forever changed by his experience.
But will he be good enough to make the Academy?
T.Z. Layton's inspiring first book in The Academy series is perfect for primary school readers and young sports fans looking for their next exciting read.
Ideal for young readers aged 7-13 looking for:
- Page-turning football chapter books
- A humorous, action-packed, sports adventure book series like no other!