In a remarkable display of growth within the sports tech sector, Eyeball.Club has successfully raised €5 million in a Seed funding round led by Vendep Capital, with additional participation from Sportlogiq, Heartland, and Founderment. This latest financial boost arrives just nine months after the company’s pre-seed round, underscoring its rapid ascent in the global football landscape.
The newly acquired funds will primarily facilitate Eyeball.Club’s expansion into pivotal markets in the U.S. and Latin America while enhancing the technological prowess of its innovative platform. Eyeball.Club is revolutionizing the scouting process through AI-driven data analytics, providing football clubs with deep insights into player performance and potential that were previously difficult to access.
Already making significant waves, Eyeball.Club’s platform is employed by over 100 top football clubs worldwide, including a majority of teams in the Premier League and Ligue 1, as well as over half of clubs in the Bundesliga and Serie A. This wide adoption highlights the impact Eyeball.Club is having on youth talent recruitment strategies at some of Europe’s elite clubs.
Among the promising talents discovered through the platform are young players such as 18-year-old Abdoulaye Kanté, who transitioned from FC Montfermeil to ESTAC (Troyes), and 19-year-old Assane Ouedraogo, who moved to Charlotte FC from FC San Pedro. These success stories illustrate the platform’s ability to identify and nurture the next generation of football stars.
Eyeball.Club CEO and Co-founder Manfred Lerley commented, “We’ve seen a three-fold increase in revenue in 2024, and this latest funding round is a strong validation of our vision to redefine how talent is scouted across the globe by top clubs. We are empowering clubs to access a broader talent pool with data-driven insights that were previously unavailable.”
Lerley emphasized the company’s mission: “It’s not just about finding the best talent; it’s about equipping clubs with the digital tools they need to future-proof their recruitment processes. Our technology democratizes the scouting process from both club and player perspectives.”
With a foundation built on full match video, computer vision AI, and comprehensive data analytics, Eyeball.Club allows clubs to scout talent from under-represented regions, significantly enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of player evaluations. A spokesperson from a leading Premier League club remarked, “Eyeball.Club has fundamentally changed how we approach youth recruitment. Their platform allows us to identify players we might never have noticed, with data that supports long-term strategic recruitment decisions.”
Editorial Perspective
Eyeball.Club’s innovative approach to youth recruitment positions it at the forefront of a significant shift in the football industry. As clubs increasingly seek data-driven solutions to enhance their recruitment processes, the demand for sophisticated platforms like Eyeball.Club will undoubtedly grow. By leveraging advanced technology, the company is not only making scouting more efficient but also creating opportunities for talented players who might otherwise go unnoticed. This democratization of talent identification has the potential to reshape the dynamics of youth football recruitment globally.
The investment from key industry players further solidifies Eyeball.Club’s reputation as a leader in sports technology. As the platform continues to evolve and expand, its ability to adapt to emerging markets will be critical in establishing a lasting impact in the football world. By focusing on under-represented regions and harnessing AI insights, Eyeball.Club is setting a new standard in talent acquisition, making the future of football more inclusive and accessible.
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