Riley Khan is looking forward to broadening her football horizons at the Benfica Residential Academy in Tampa, Florida.

The Bermudian midfielder was recently recruited by the Portuguese outfit and can hardly wait to begin the next chapter of her career this summer.

“I am beyond thrilled to join Benfica’s Academy, not only because of how big the name and brand is, but because of the opportunity and potential it brings to me,” Khan told The Royal Gazette.

“I am excited to see how much I improve throughout my time at the academy because it will be such a professional experience.”

The Warwick Academy student has been granted the wonderful opportunity after being scouted while playing for local outfit Vasco da Gama’s boys teams under-13 and under-15 level

“Based on the type of player I am they felt I would be a good fit,” Khan said.

“I was unable to attend the evaluation but they requested videos of games and I was accepted, signed and awarded a scholarship solely on that.”

The academy offers a unique blend of high level football and academic excellence for students and is based at Saint Leo University’s state-of-the-art campus.

Drawing on Benfica’s rich history, which includes twice winning the European Cup in the 1960s, the academy aims to equip young players with the skills required to compete in the highest levels of competition globally.

Khan, 13, has already made big strides since launching her career at Warwick Academy.

“I actually started playing football quite late,” she said. “I played a little football at Warwick Academy but my career didn’t really start until I joined PHC Under-9s, which helped improve my football IQ.

“I then was invited to join the National Academy in 2023 and also wanted to further challenge myself, so I joined Vasco where I play with the Under-13 and Under-15 boys teams. My season with Vasco has been one of the best I have ever played and has helped me grow as a player.”

Leo Burgess, the Vasco coach, reckons the promising player has the potential to go far in the sport.

“Riley came to us and you can tell she had something,” he said. “She approached training slightly different, had the right head on her and work ethic.

“She’s a special talent with so much ahead of her if she stays on track, which I’m pretty sure she will. Nothing she has is short of hard work and dedication to her craft.”

Khan has also been grooming her skills at Leo Burgess Academy for the past two years.

“In 2023 I went to their camp for the first time and instantly wanted to attend their programme after seeing how they work with your technical abilities,” she said.

“When I got in I instantly saw improvements and was invited on my first trip with them last summer. LB Academy has shaped me and made me the player I am today. Many would describe me as a skilful player, but without LB I would not be a player that is able to defeat others in 1v1s or blow past a defender.

“LB has not only improved my skills as a footballer, but has also built strong relationships between coaches and my peers, which is equally as important. I would like to highlight coach Leo and coach Shon [Keishon Burgess] as they have worked with me for a while now and without them I would not be in the position that I am today.”

Khan is also grateful to have benefited from her involvement in the Warwick Academy High Performance Programme headed up technical director Richard Todd.

“I could not have achieved any of this without coach Richard Todd,” she said.

“I attend the High Performance Programme that meets three times a week before school and because of coach Todd and this programme I have been able to compete in many Surf Select Tournaments internationally and attend IDA Academy in Valencia, Spain, which has helped me become the player I am and has continued to open many opportunities for me.”