Leo K. Doyle, a small-town kid from Ohio, has beaten all the odds and made the roster of a Premier League youth squad.

Leo has beaten all the odds and made the roster of a Premier League youth squad. But he is far from the star player.

In fact, he isn’t even a starter-and the U14 Lewisham Knights are the worst team in the league. They’re so bad that if they don’t improve this year, the owner will disband the team, and riding the bench will be the least of Leo’s worries.

As Leo juggles pressure from his team, schoolwork, and (lack of) friends, Leo cannot help but feel like he is worlds away from home and all that he knows. Will he be able to score a starting spot on the world’s biggest football stage or has he missed his shot entirely?

For premier fans and football enthusiasts, T.Z. Layton’s hilarious and inspiring second book in The Academy series is perfect for middle grade readers ages 7-13.

Meet Leo and his football-loving lizard named Messi in the first book from The Academy series-
The Academy
The Academy II- The Journey Continues
The Academy III- Tournament of Champions
The Academy V- Cup of Nations
The Academy VI- Rise of the Scorpions