Why Do Half of All Transfers Fail? The Seven Key Reasons Explained
Football clubs spend millions on transfers, yet around 50% of signings fail—here’s why, and how AI is being used to reduce the risks.
Original Source
The Times
Written by
Steve Worrell
Despite vast sums of money being spent in the transfer market, nearly half of all signings fail to deliver. This is often due to factors such as tactical incompatibility, managerial changes, fitness issues, or personal struggles. Clubs are now turning to AI and data analytics to improve their recruitment, measuring not just player ability but how well they fit within a team’s system. By analysing past performance in different conditions, AI-driven scouting hopes to increase the success rate of transfers.
- Seven main reasons for transfer failures include players not fitting the team’s style, being played out of position, or suffering fitness/personal issues.
- 50% of Premier League signings fail, with many players playing fewer than 540 minutes before being moved on.
- AI and data-driven scouting can analyse how a player fits into a team rather than just their technical ability.
- AI tools like correlation engines compare player performance in different tactical setups, predicting whether they will succeed in a new environment.
- Big clubs are increasingly relying on AI models to avoid expensive mistakes, moving beyond traditional scouting methods.
- The future of football transfers may be dictated by data, helping clubs make smarter signings and reduce financial risks.
Copy article link
More On This Story
More sources covering the same story appear below 👇
Photo Credit
ROB NEWELL/GETTY
Written by
Steve Worrell
Steve, Co-founder of The 1905 Club, created the platform to provide honest, clickbait-free Chelsea FC content. He worked at Stamford Bridge from 2013 to 2016 with a Champions League sponsor. His first Chelsea match was a 1-0 win at Leeds in 2000, and his favourite was the epic 2012 Champions League game against Napoli.
