Naythan-Din Kariuki, a Kenyan professional working at English Premier League club Aston Villa, was promoted to the position of Lead Data Scout on Tuesday, March 11, making him a key figure in the club’s transfer strategy.
In a significant achievement for a Kenyan, Naythan, the son of renowned media personality Gina Din-Kariuki, announced his new role on LinkedIn, highlighting his rapid rise within the club based in the West Midlands.
“Having been at Aston Villa Football Club for just under a year as a First Team Recruitment Analyst, I am really proud and honoured to say that I’ve been promoted to Lead Data Scout,” he shared.
In his new role, Naythan will leverage his expertise as both a scout and data analyst to support Aston Villa’s recruitment strategy as they strive for success in both English and European competitions.
In a typical football club setting, the Lead Data Scout integrates analytics with traditional scouting to ensure the club makes informed, data-driven recruitment decisions while maintaining a competitive edge in the transfer market.
Naythan, who, according to his LinkedIn profile, possesses an in-depth understanding of both English and African football, holds two postgraduate degrees—one in Sports Business & Leadership and another in Performance Analysis.
Beyond player recruitment, he will also apply his expertise in areas such as performance analysis, opposition and market evaluation, collaboration with the coaching staff, and the use of advanced scouting software to contribute to the club’s overall success strategy.
Prior to joining Aston Villa, Naythan worked at Oxford United Football Club, AC Horsens, and Eden Sports Group in various analytical roles.
In Kenya, he served as the goalkeeper coach for Kariobangi Sharks in the Kenya Premier League in 2016. He also co-founded East African Eye, an independent scouting and football data service dedicated to identifying and promoting emerging talent from East Africa.
Currently, Aston Villa is performing strongly in the prestigious UEFA Champions League (UCL), holding a 3-1 aggregate lead over Belgium’s Club Brugge ahead of their home fixture in the Round of 16.
In the English Premier League (EPL), Villa sits eighth in the standings, just four points off the UCL qualification spots. Under the leadership of coach Unai Emery, the club has continued to improve, with their smart recruitment strategy playing a crucial role in their success.
Naythan is not the only Kenyan making his name in the EPL. Tottenham full-back Djed Spence, born of a Kenyan mother and Jamaican father, is currently enjoying his breakthrough season at the London-based club. Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama also flew the Kenyan flag high during his time in the English top flight playing for Southampton and Tottenham.
