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David Villa, international soccer star, to open academy in Astoria

David Villa with NYCFC

June 1, 2017 By Jason Cohen

David Villa, an international soccer star who is now the captain of the New York City Football Club, is bringing a soccer academy to Astoria.

DV7 Astoria FC is the newest member of the DV7 Soccer Academy, an international network of youth soccer clubs led by Villa, a World Cup winner with Spain and a Major League Soccer (MLS) player.

With clubs in Spain, Puerto Rico, Hong Kong, the Dominican Republic, South Korea, and Manhattan, DV7 arrives in Astoria, at the Upper 90 Soccer Center at 34-23 38th Street.

Tryouts are being held June 8, 11 and 23 for players born between 2007 and 2012 and registration is required in advance. The cost of the academy is $2,400 and there will be three installments to help the families.

The program is for full year and consists of two practices a week and a game every Sunday.

According to the organization’s website, “its mission is to teach children around the world how to play soccer using the DV7 method. The methodology allows players to develop soccer skills while fostering personal values on and off the field. The DV7 Soccer Academy model is based on the Spanish soccer methodology, which has proven effective and successful around the world.”

While Villa resides in Manhattan, he feels it is important to educate the children of Queens about soccer, a spokesman for the organization said. Last summer, he opened a kids’ soccer camp at Queens College, and a free clinic at Flushing Meadows-Corona Park.

“We want be involved and in touch with the Queens community,” the spokesman said. “We want to build solid soccer programs and expand this program to different areas in Queens.”