Burnley FC has partnered with Romanian startup Nordensa to leverage the company’s technology and data-driven scouting platform.
Nordesna’s solution factors football fans into the scouting process by allowing followers of partnered clubs to support trials of prospective talent via its app.
The platform uses sportstech and data to scout up-and-coming footballers who are then analysed by its team of Premier League and Bundesliga scouts.
App users are then given the opportunity to invest in a player’s future by purchasing a stake of up to 8% of the player’s salary for the next five years, and also gain access to exclusive content.
Alan Pace, Chairman of Burnley FC, said: “I’m pleased to announce our collaboration with Nordensa, as we continue to find innovative ways to discover exciting player talent. As a football club, we are passionate about developing young talent and the unique way Nordensa is connecting fans and players is very exciting. I’m looking forward to collaborating with Nordensa and seeing further fan-backed footballers make their mark on the game.”
The Burnley partnership comes off the back of a funding round for Nordensa which saw €1.65m in capital raised. The Lancashire club’s ownership were participants in the funding round and now sit on the firm’s Advisory Board alongside Chris Kay, Saatchi & Saatchi CEO and Head of Marketing at Manchester City.
Burnley is itself no stranger to sports technology and data. In an interview with Insider Sport’s Behind the Badge podcast last year, the club’s Head of Commercial, Marcus Mellor, explained how it was aiming to become more ‘savvy’ in this area. It has also been active in pursuing Web3 partnerships.
Nordensa will now be hoping for its technology and platform to make a splash in English football following a success story last year which saw Cameroonian player Joseph Lyendjock become the first fan-backed player to sign for a European squad, joining the reserve team of Dinamo Tbilisi.
“We are beyond excited to welcome Burnley FC as our very first Premier League partner,” said Adrian Docea, CEO and Founder at Nordensa.
“To have the club sharing in our vision to give over five billion passionate fans a real shot at meaningful involvement in football is not something that we take for granted, and so we’re continuing to work our mission to reach as many people as possible and give them the opportunity to change a young footballer’s life in the real world.
“That kind of power in the hands of the fans is not only extremely rewarding in itself; we believe it is also the future of the sport.”
Burnley currently sit 19th in the Premier League table with three games remaining. Although relegation is looking likely, this could present an opportunity for Nordensa to play a role in a potential bounceback for the club if it returns to the EFL Championship.
