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The Academy III: Tournament of Champions
  • Published: 6 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9781464268816
  • Imprint: Sourcebooks Young Readers
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 294
  • RRP: $14.99

The Academy III: Tournament of Champions




From the playground to the premier league, Leo K. Doyle is a football star in the UK...but a football wannabe in the highly competitive, international Tournament of Champions.

Leo tries to lead his team to glory in some of the most exciting, high-stakes football in the world!

Last season, Leo and his teammates saved the Lewisham Knights...only to learn that their team is in jeopardy again thanks to a division reshuffle. And placing in their league is no longer enough to save the Knights or Leo's Olympic-sized soccer dreams.

But all might not be lost. The team owner has entered the U14s in the Tournament of Champions, an ultra competitive, youth summer league for the top teams in the world. And the Knights aren't just playing for a trophy: a loophole assures the winner of the tournament will stay in the youth Premier League.

As Leo juggles tourney pressure, a new teammate with some serious attitude problems, and someone on the inside trying to oust the U14s from the competition, will the young football star find a way to pull his team together and have a fighting chance at winning?

For premier fans and football enthusiasts, T.Z. Layton's third book in award-winning The Academy Series is perfect for middle grade readers and sports fans ages 7-13.

Keep score with the other books in The Academy series:
The Academy
The Academy II: The Journey Continues
The Academy IV: Title Fight
The Academy V: Cup of Nations
The Academy VI: Rise of the Scorpions

  • Published: 6 January 2026
  • ISBN: 9781464268816
  • Imprint: Sourcebooks Young Readers
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 294
  • RRP: $14.99

About the author

T.Z. Layton

T.Z. LAYTON is the author of the bestselling and award-winning Academy series, which has been optioned for film and sold translation rights around the world. The author writes adult fiction under Layton Green and is also a soccer dad, youth coach, former collegiate player, and lifelong fan of the beautiful game.

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