Premier League players juggle studies with football to prepare for life after playing

A number of Premier League footballers are balancing their playing careers with academic study, preparing for potential future roles as sporting directors once their playing days are over.

Players including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Taiwo Awoniyi are among those juggling education alongside their football commitments, with some reportedly using downtime during away trips, including time on the team bus, to keep up with coursework.

The trend reflects a broader shift among professional footballers toward planning for careers beyond playing, with sporting director and executive roles increasingly seen as a natural progression for players with a strong understanding of the game's business and strategic side.

Combining a demanding playing schedule with academic study presents significant time-management challenges, requiring players to make use of otherwise unproductive periods such as travel time to stay on top of their studies.

The growing interest among current players in formal education for post-playing careers suggests a shift in how top-level footballers are approaching career planning, looking beyond the pitch even while still active professionals.