Rio and Anton Ferdinand have launched a new partnership between their organisation, The Ferdinand Collective, and FinTech firm Intuit QuickBooks.
The initiative is aimed at helping young footballers build financial awareness alongside their development on the pitch.
It brings financial literacy into youth football pathways, teaching players and their families practical skills around money management, business basics and planning for life after sport.聽
It follows warnings from the Professional Footballers鈥� Association (PFA), which says 10-20% of former Premier League players face serious financial trouble within five years of retiring.
As part of the collaboration, California-based Intuit will co-host financial workshops; fund four scholarships for players from low-income families; and appear on the Ferdinand Collective Academy and women鈥檚 pathway kits alongside existing sponsors Reebok and VEO.
鈥淟ess than 1% of academy players make it professional,鈥� said Anton.
鈥淭oo many come into football and, for many, it鈥檚 their first job but they鈥檙e not given the skills to manage their salary or plan for the future.聽
鈥淲e will change that by offering pathways, mentorship and financial education that will help our players and their families long after the final whistle.鈥�
Patrick Harrison, UK sales director at Intuit, added: 鈥淲e believe opportunity starts with access. Working with The Ferdinand Collective means we can equip young players with the tools to build a secure future.聽
鈥淔rom their first pay cheque, we鈥檙e committed to helping them manage their money effectively and turn talent into lasting success.聽
鈥淏y backing grassroots football, funding scholarships, and supporting financial education, we鈥檙e proud to invest in a generation whose ambition extends far beyond the final whistle.鈥�