PSG Academy Chicago

Tax status: for-profit franchise / licensed branch (no IRS Form 990 filed). Operates under the global Paris Saint-Germain Academy network managed by Strive Football Group (Miami-based, privately held).

Overview

Launched May 2023 through a partnership between Strive Football Group / PSG Academy USA and West Loop Soccer Club. Milos Bajic serves as Program Director. Inaugural season was 2023-24; now in its third season (2025-26).

The PSG Academy network is one of the largest licensed-academy systems globally — Strive Football Group claims the program is trusted by 50,000 young players across 21 countries, with PSG Academy events running in 60+ North American cities annually. Chicago is one of multiple full-program PSG Academy branches in the US.

Contact: info@psgacademychicago.com | (773) 312-5054

Teams & Players

Programs span ages 2-19:

• Competitive (U4-U19) — structured academy pathway, PSG-certified / UEFA-licensed coaches delivering the official PSG methodology
• Recreational (ages 2-14) — community-level programming
• ICL Academy — intermediate competitive level
• Camps — seasonal training camps and showcase events
• Player count across all 7 locations not publicly disclosed (LOW — likely several hundred to ~1,000 across rec + competitive based on facility footprint)

League Affiliations

• YSSL (Young Sportsmen Soccer League) — Illinois elite local league
• Competes in the broader IYSA / Illinois club ecosystem at the level below national platforms
• No ECNL, MLS Next, or Girls Academy affiliation — sits outside the top-tier national pathway despite the PSG branding

Facilities

Operates across 7 locations in Chicagoland:

1. Chicago City (downtown)
2. West Town
3. Northside
4. Oak Brook (western suburbs)
5. Wheaton (DuPage County)
6. St. Charles (Kane County)
7. Naperville (southwestern suburbs)

Geographic spread covers Chicago proper and extends into the western suburban corridor. Locations are believed to be a mix of leased and partner facilities rather than owned real estate (consistent with the franchise/license model).

Financials

No public financial data available. PSG Academy Chicago operates as a for-profit franchise/licensed branch under Strive Football Group (privately held, headquartered in Miami) and West Loop Soccer Club. No IRS Form 990 is filed. Strive Football Group as a whole does not publish revenue figures.

Implied per-branch economics (LOW — modeled): a full PSG Academy branch with 7 sites typically generates $1–3M in annual revenue at premium-branded fee levels ($2,500–$5,000/competitive player/year), with material royalties / license fees flowing back to Strive and PSG. Net economics to the local operator depend on the franchise structure — typical PSG-network agreements include monthly royalty + brand-use fees plus minimum coaching-quality standards.

Confidence: (LOW) for dollar specifics; (HIGH) for the structural fact that the operation is for-profit franchise, not an independent club.

Leadership

• Milos Bajic — Program Director, founding leadership for the Chicago branch. Prior club: West Loop Soccer Club. Bajic does not own the club outright — he operates under Strive Football Group’s franchise/license terms.
• Reporting / oversight: Strive Football Group (Miami) — PSG Academy North America management, with ultimate brand authority through PSG (Paris Saint-Germain).
• Coaching staff: PSG-certified and/or UEFA-licensed, trained on the PSG methodology.

(MEDIUM) — Bajic’s role is documented; the precise legal entity (LLC, S-corp) under which the Chicago branch operates is not public.

Competitive Position

In Year 2 at the PSG Cup, the club won 2 of 5 divisions, placed 2nd in 1, and 3rd in 2 — credible competitive performance in branded showcase competition. Competes against Chicago Fire Academy, Chicago FC United (3STEP-owned), Sockers FC, and Eclipse Select SC in the Chicago metro.

The multi-location model mirrors the Chicago City SC hub approach but uses the PSG global brand as a differentiator — a positioning aimed at families willing to pay a premium for international branding.

Investment Thesis

Demand for premium-branded youth soccer in Chicago metro is proven, and PSG Academy Chicago has built a credible 7-site footprint in three years. Franchise/license model means Bajic does not own the club — the PSG brand and methodology are licensed from Strive Football Group, so there is no clean “buy the club” path for an outside acquirer. Strategic optionality:

1. If the director-operator relationship sours, the underlying player base and coaching network could become available to be re-credentialed under a different brand — but the PSG name itself would not transfer.
2. The franchise economics are interesting as a comp / benchmark for premium-branded youth-soccer pricing in the upper Midwest.
3. Limited M&A relevance directly; meaningful as a competitor positioning data point in any Illinois platform thesis.

Open Questions

• Terms of Bajic agreement with Strive Football Group (license length, royalty rate, exclusivity)
• Legal entity structure (LLC under Strive? Independent franchise LLC?)
• Player count across all 7 locations
• Revenue and fee structure relative to Chicago market competitors
• How the West Loop Soccer Club lineage / players were absorbed into the new PSG branch