According to Globo Esporte, Independiente del Valle continues to invest in youth training and infrastructure, with the training center having accumulated investments exceeding 10 million US dollars.

Independiente del Valle was formerly Club Deportivo Independiente. The team remained dormant in Ecuador's lower leagues for nearly 50 years before changing its name to Independiente José Terán. At that time, it was an obscure community team in Sangolquí, a town in the Quito metropolitan area, less than an hour's drive from the capital.

The club changed its name a third time to Independiente del Valle, marking a turning point in its competitive level. In 2006, the club was acquired by a group of wealthy entrepreneurs.

The team then rapidly rose through the ranks, winning the Ecuadorian Serie B championship in 2007 and being promoted to the top league in 2009. Independiente del Valle gradually became a major force in Ecuadorian football and achieved notable results in South American competition: runner-up in the Copa Libertadores in 2016, two-time Copa Sudamericana champions in 2019 and 2022, and winner of the Recopa Sudamericana in 2023 after defeating Flamengo at the Maracanã Stadium.

This rapid rise is inseparable from financial investment. The new management primarily invested funds in youth training and infrastructure.

Construction of the training center began in 2010, the year Independiente del Valle first competed in Ecuador's top league. Since then, the club has invested 10 million US dollars, approximately 50 million Brazilian Reals, in this facility.

A Globo Esporte reporter once visited the Independiente del Valle training center while Mirasol was preparing for a Copa Libertadores match. The reporter interviewed Juan González, Independiente del Valle's communications director, who introduced the club's youth development philosophy.

Juan González stated: "Our investment is continuous. We sell players, but we don't spend money acquiring established players. Sometimes signing established players might help the team win the Copa Libertadores or Copa Sudamericana, but we choose to invest in our existing system because 360 players aged 12 to 18 live here. All investments return to this complex, and new facilities are built every year."

Independiente del Valle was founded in 1958 by shoemaker José Terán and his friends. The club's turning point occurred in 2006 when new ownership changed the team colors from red and white to blue and black. Michel Deller and Franklin Tello, two of Ecuador's wealthiest entrepreneurs, spearheaded this transformation.

The two belong to a group of entrepreneurs whose businesses span real estate, textiles, and other industries. Deller's wealth largely comes from KFC, as he owns the operating rights to the brand in several Latin American countries, and also owns construction companies and commercial centers.

Deller is the head of the Independiente del Valle Group, which owns Spanish club Numancia, Colombian club Atlético Huila, and holds a stake in Brazilian club Coritiba since December 2025. Deller is the lifetime president and owner of Independiente del Valle.

After the group's initial investment, Independiente del Valle was promoted to the top league and began developing players. As revenue from player sales increased, the club gained additional funds. To date, Independiente del Valle has earned over 100 million US dollars, approximately 500 million Brazilian Reals, through player sales.

Key transfers include center-back William Pacho joining Paris Saint-Germain, defender Hincapié playing for Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal, defensive midfielder Moisés Caicedo joining Chelsea, forwards Gonzalo Plata playing for Sporting CP and Flamengo, and Kendry Páez joining Chelsea and River Plate.

Construction of the Independiente del Valle training center began in 2010 and was completed four years later. It continues to receive investment, with total expenditure exceeding 10 million US dollars to date.

The club invests approximately 12,000 US dollars, or about 60,000 Brazilian Reals, per youth player annually. With approximately 250 youth players, total related expenses reach approximately 15 million Brazilian Reals, covering food, clothing, transportation, and education.

The Independiente del Valle high-level training center covers 8 hectares and features 7 training pitches: 4 natural grass and 3 artificial turf.

Two stadiums are built within the complex: one for the men's team and the other for the women's team, Independiente del Valle Dragonas.

The first team's home stadium, Estadio Banco Guayaquil, accommodates 12,000 fans and opened in March 2021, making it Ecuador's first stadium with naming rights. The stadium cost approximately 18 million US dollars to build, nearly 100 million Brazilian Reals.

Independiente del Valle gathers directly at the training center before home matches. The training center is only a short walk from the stadium, reducing travel time and facilitating logistical arrangements.

Youth players and professional players reside in adjacent spaces, with dormitories accommodating over 100 young players. The complex also features a library, gymnasium, cafeteria, auditorium, and recreational room with table tennis facilities and a basketball court.

The gymnasium was built in partnership with Aspire Academy in Qatar. This elite sports academy has collaborated with over 50 football organizations worldwide, including Santos, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain, and various football associations.

Another stadium within the complex belongs to the women's team, Independiente del Valle Dragonas. Estadio Chub has relatively modest facilities but hosts most of the women's team's matches. The women's team competes in U14 and U16 age groups.

Facilities for youth training and professional teams continue to expand, with the club currently constructing a gymnasium and exclusive dormitories for the women's team.

In addition to the men's and women's teams, Independiente del Valle operates a reserve team, Independiente del Valle II, which competes in Ecuador's Serie B as a club affiliate with four age groups.

A distinctive feature of the Independiente del Valle training center is the school built within the complex. The school provides modern learning spaces for students aged 11 to 18 who follow the Ecuadorian curriculum adjusted to incorporate football training. Spanish language classes also prepare young players for future interviews and media engagements.

Academic performance influences selections such as youth team captains and other daily management decisions.

Sebastián Borneo, headmaster of the Independiente del Valle school, told Globo Esporte in a 2022 interview: "The educational philosophy is as important as the sports philosophy. We view the school not merely as subjects like mathematics and Spanish, but primarily as part of developing intellectual freedom."

Approximately 30% of Independiente del Valle's budget is invested in youth player development. The team's playing philosophy, consistent across all age groups and the first team, is inspired by Barcelona's football model.

Billboards displaying the club's motto are placed throughout the training center, targeting both young players and professionals. Core values include humility, loyalty, willingness, responsibility, integrity, unity, and gratitude.

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