From 650,000 players to one signing: inside Man City's data machine and how they really build a squad
BBC Sport has been given unprecedented access to City's recruitment operation. They reveal how Anderson went from afterthought to "no-brainer," how Alvarez was bought for £14m and sold for £81m, and why the current squad won't peak for another two to three years.
On this page(1)
Inside Manchester City's data operation is a fundamental phrase: "What does it take to win?"
BBC Sport has been given unprecedented access to the inner workings of the club's recruitment machine, revealing how a database of 650,000 players is filtered down to a single signing, and why the data team believe this squad won't peak for another two to three years.
Only four players remain from the 2023 Champions League final. The rebuild has been forensic, expensive and deliberate.
How does the process work?
It starts with a brief: what kind of player does City need? Full-backs, for example, are categorised into three types: defensive, those who come inside, and those who play high and wide.
Filters are applied to the 650,000-player database, producing a longlist of 20-50 names. That list is cross-referenced with traditional scouting reports. Generally there is significant overlap. Further metrics reduce the list to about six. Deep dives into injury records, athletic performance and behavioural habits cut it to two or three.
Each player gets an "acquisition pack" including radar charts, a "current impact score," a "potential impact score" and, perhaps most intriguingly, an "action value score" that ranks them against City's existing players and rivals in the same position.
Sporting director Hugo Viana told BBC Sport: "Data plays a role in our decision-making, but it is just one part of the overall picture. We know data cannot tell us everything about a player. It cannot fully show a person's character, mentality or behaviour. That is
Frequently Asked Questions
- How does Manchester City use data to sign players?
- The club filters a global database of 650,000 players based on specific positional criteria, narrowing it down to a shortlist that is then evaluated alongside traditional scouting reports.
- Who is Manchester City's sporting director?
- Hugo Viana is the sporting director at Manchester City, overseeing a recruitment strategy that blends statistical analysis with traditional scouting.
- Has the change in manager affected City's transfer strategy?
- The transition from Pep Guardiola to Enzo Maresca has not significantly changed the club's data-driven approach, as the overarching philosophy of possession-based football remains the same.