The NFL have announced the launch of their first ever academy, opening in north London in September.

Around eighty teenage students will be recruited over the next three months to become the debut intake at the NFL Academy based at Barnet and Southgate College.

They will study two-year full-time A-level or vocational BTEC and NVQ courses, as well as receiving around six hours intensive American football training a week. The students, aged 16 to 19, will also attend a number of “life skills” classes and get involved in community work.

A host of leading NFL talents, including Cleveland Browns wide receiver Odell Beckham Junior and last season's MVP, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, have committed to ambassadorial roles which will see them visit the college at least once a year.

The NFL’s UK Managing Director, Alistair Kirkwood, called the announcement the ‘most important’ development for the sport in this country since the Jacksonville Jaguars made a commitment to play multiple regular season games in London.

British-born Super Bowl winner Jay Ajayi was present at the launch at the NFL’s UK HQ, and compared the project to the academy system used in soccer.

“It’s a crazy thing in my mind because knowing what the academy system means to kids in London in football,” Ajayi said.

“Now to have an American football academy here for kids that are passionate about it and want to chase that dream is really important.”

Students hoping to become part of the first Academy intake will be able to sign up for one of two open tryouts in June, before a select group are invited back for a final trial, likely to be in early July.

The selection process will involve an interview and a physical “try out” although applicants will not be expected to have experience in playing American football. However, it is hoped that the most talented will go on to win sports scholarship places in US colleges and ultimately become professional players in the NFL.

The college has recruited around six full-time American football coaches who will be supported by some of the biggest names in the sport.

As well as Beckham Jr and Mahomes, other current and former players to agree 'ambassadorial' roles at the college include Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Juju Smith-Schuster; ex San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jerry Rice; Philadelphia Eagles running back Ajayi; and the Carolina Panthers’ Efe Obada, who grew up in Hackney and Stockwell.

The regular expert pundits on the BBC’s NFL’s coverage, London-born two-time Super Bowl winner Osi Umenyiora and retired cornerback Jason Bell will also be ambassadors.