Delegates from Wenzhou and Paterna, Spain, attend the signing ceremony in Wenzhou on Nov 11. [Photo/Wenzhou Sports Bureau]
Wenzhou took another step toward internationalizing its soccer development as the city's sports bureau signed an agreement on youth soccer training cooperation with Paterna, Spain, on Nov 11.
Juan Antonio Sagredo Marco, Spanish senator and mayor of Paterna, attended the signing ceremony along with his delegation.
This marks another milestone in Wenzhou's growing soccer ties with Spain. The city signed strategic cooperation agreements with Valencia CF in October last year and Villarreal CF in April this year. The new framework agreement with the Paterna city government will further integrate governmental and professional soccer resources — including those of top-tier clubs — to boost youth soccer training in Wenzhou.
The partnership covers areas such as the joint construction of training bases, introduction of Spanish coaches, coach training programs, localization of Spain's youth training curriculum, and the creation of international brand tournaments.
Du Jizheng, deputy director of the Wenzhou Sports Bureau, highlighted plans to enhance talent cultivation and elite coach development. Eva Pérez López, vice-mayor of Paterna, introduced the city's advantages in soccer and voiced support for deepening city-to-city collaboration.
Located next to Valencia, Paterna hosts the training base of La Liga's Valencia CF and will serve as one of the training sites for the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
