The PFA pre-season camp has helped free agents secure new deals since its launch in the 2022/23 season, providing out-of-contract members with a residential training base, daily on-pitch sessions, strength and conditioning work, and friendlies. This year, the camp runs for 12 weeks, with the week-six squad announced on Friday, featuring Premier League cult hero Connor Wickham.
Notable alumni and current squad
Former Premier League and international players such as John Swift, Carl Jenkinson, Dwight Gayle, and Paul Dummett have all used the camp in recent years. Fabio Borini, who joined Salford City last summer after attending, 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.”
The week-six squad includes 12 players, among them Andre Green, James Norwood, Daniel Johnson, Sam Morsy, Anthony Scully, James Furlong, Kyle Vassell, Luke Berry, Lee Evans, Billy Bodin, and Dan Batty, alongside Wickham.
Expanded programme and WSL inclusion
PFA CEO Maheta Molango explained the decision to extend the camp: “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.”
He added: “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.”
Molango also confirmed the camp will now welcome WSL and WSL2 players for the first time, saying: “Players told us that they would benefit 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 first 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.”
