Real Sociedad have extended and expanded their partnership with the University of Deusto, reports, www.sportspromedia.com/.

The new agreement will see the top-flight Spanish team's academy players given the opportunity to enrol in the private university's double degree course in Primary Education and Physical Activity and Sport Sciences.

The club, their foundation and the university will collaborate with the intention of helping athletes by reconciling sport with education in order to give young players a better chance of developing a career outside of soccer if they fail to graduate from the academy.

The two entities first partnered in 2014 to promote joint programmes for training, research and the exercise of social responsibility in sport.

Jokin Aperribay, president of Real Sociedad, said: "Our players' studies are very important. The idea that they should and can reconcile studies and football is something that we always emphasise."

José María Guibert, the rector of the University of Deusto, added: "We share with Real Sociedad their concern for the present and the future of their players."