UEFA to invest €1bn into women's football up to 2030

UEFA have pledged to invest €1bn (£830m) into women's football up to 2030 in an effort to create a future for the next generation of players, coaches, referees, volunteers and fans.

The move is part of their new women's football strategy branded Unstoppable, which builds on the success of their previous plan launched in 2019, Time for Action.

They've set out four long-term goals for 2030, including:

•  To make football the most played team sport for women and girls in every European country, through developing football pathways for players, coaches and referees alongside grassroots opportunities

•  To make Europe the home of the world's top players, with six fully professional leagues and 5,000 fully professional players across the continent

•  To make football the most sustainable and investable women's sport, with record-breaking UEFA competitions

• To ensure women's football is celebrated for its unique values and community, where everyone believes that they can have a place

UEFA's managing director of women's football, Nadine Kessler said: "European women's football has never been in a better place. National teams and clubs are excelling thanks to enormous investments, improved competition structures and thousands of emerging professional playing opportunities.

"Women's football in Europe has become a sport for the masses, attracting an ever-growing and diverse fan base, and partners that wholeheartedly contribute to its growth. It is our promise to keep investing and collectively lead the game forward, with all European national associations, leagues, clubs, players, fans and partners part of our journey – because women's football is Unstoppable."

Unstoppable has been publicly supported by Lioness legend Jill Scott, Chelsea and England star Lauren James, as well as two-time Ballon d'Or winner Aitana Bonmati.

READ THE LATEST WOMEN'S FOOTBALL NEWS, FEATURES & ANALYSIS