PFA announces expanded summer pre-season training camp for free agents and launches first camps for WSL and WSL2 players.
The PFA has announced a significant expansion to its hugely successful pre-season training camps for out-of-contract players, extending the programme from 10 to 12 weeks, and introducing camps for WSL and WSL2 players for the first time.
Since its launch in the 2022/23 season, PFA pre-season has helped hundreds of free agents land new deals with clubs. The initiative gives out-of-contract members a residential training base during the off-season, with daily on-pitch training sessions, strength and conditioning, friendly fixtures, and wrap-around physical and mental wellbeing support.
Following feedback and consultation with PFA members, this year’s camp will expand to 12 weeks over summer - running from 29 June to 16 September 2026 - offering members who are yet to sign deals a longer preparation window into the opening weeks of the new seasons. New regional top-up sessions will also be hosted at two sites - Edge Hill University and Bisham Abbey - to supplement camp training days.
This year also sees the introduction of a dedicated camp for out-of-contract WSL and WSL2 players in weeks commencing 15 July and 22 July. The move follows the expansion of the PFA’s membership across the top two tiers of women’s football after the WSL2 became fully professional for the 2025/26 season.
PFA pre-season has previously attracted a number of high-profile former Premier League and international players, including John Swift, Carl Jenkinson, Dwight Gayle and Paul Dummett.
Former Sunderland and AC Milan forward Fabio Borini signed for Salford City after attending PFA pre-season in 2025, crediting the union’s initiative for helping him secure his move to the Greater Manchester club.
"What the PFA has done with this initiative is very helpful,” Borini said. “It gives players the opportunity to stay fit the best way possible, with the facilities they provided.
"It is also a great opportunity to be seen, which is why Alex [Salford Assistant Manager] and other clubs texted me to say they were interested. I suppose it was the same for other players. If you train at home in your own back garden, no one is going to see you."
PFA CEO Maheta Molango has credited the expansion of the pre-season camps to the continued dedication of players at the most challenging time of their season, and also praised the response of the entire football community in embracing the programme.
"We never want players to be with us for too long over the summer, we all wish them a quick transition into new clubs, but we’re proud that so many choose to spend that crucial preparation period with us. It’s a credit to the genuinely high-performance environment we’ve created and the club-like atmosphere our team has built around the programme.
"It was powerful to see the response to the camp last season in particular. Managers, coaches and supporters really connected with the stories of the players involved, and it made a genuine difference. So many of our members went on to have fantastic seasons off the back of their time with us, and for us to have played even a small role in that is incredible.
"Players told us that they would benefi t from a longer programme this year, allowing them to continue training as the season gets underway, and I’m delighted we’ve been able to make that happen. We’re also looking forward to welcoming WSL and WSL2 players to PFA pre-season for the fi rst time and, as ever, we extend a warm welcome to clubs, scouts and managers to use the camp to engage with players ready for their next challenge."
A schedule of 10 pre-season friendly fi xtures has been arranged for attendees, with weekly free agent squads set to face a range of opposition including development teams at Fulham, West Brom, and QPR.
Offi cial camp partner OPN, a data-led athlete management platform, will give players access to performance analytics throughout the camp and will also host a digital transfer marketplace connecting free agents to clubs and scouts.
OPN co-founder and former professional footballer Aaron Wildig said:
"Throughout my career, I've seen how talented players can miss out on opportunities simply because clubs don't have the full picture. By combining the PFA Transfer List with a player’s Digital Athlete Passport, we’re helping clubs fi nd the right talent faster, while giving players greater visibility and control over their own careers during what can often be an uncertain time."
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