Premier League footballers including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall of Everton and Taiwo Awoniyi of Coventry City have graduated from the PFA Business School with postgraduate diplomas in global football sport directorship. The 2026 cohort celebrated their achievement at a ceremony at Arsenal's Emirates Stadium, with graduates including several well-known players and former major European honour winners. These players are preparing for potential careers in football management and sport directorship after their playing days end, recognising the importance of developing skills beyond their performance on the pitch.

Dewsbury-Hall, 28, completed the diploma whilst maintaining his position as a regular Premier League player, explaining that he wanted to acquire qualifications whilst still active rather than waiting until retirement. Awoniyi, 29, has now obtained three qualifications including a business management degree, following a commitment made to his father that he would continue his education whilst pursuing football. Both players highlighted that footballers have sufficient time available to study given the flexible nature of their schedules, with Awoniyi noting that matches and training leave evenings and other periods free for academic work. Notably, Cesar Azpilicueta told the group that studying on the morning of the 2021 Champions League final helped settle his nerves before he captained Chelsea to victory.