Kenyan analyst Kariuki feted at Fotball Black List Awards

Kenyan football analyst Naythan Din-Kariuki has been named among the standout figures at the prestigious Football Black List Awards, marking a significant milestone in his rapidly rising career in European football.

Din-Kariuki, who currently serves as Lead Data Scout at Aston Villa, was recognized in the “Ugo Ehiogu Ones to Watch” category during the ceremony held on April 14, 2026, at the QEII Centre.

The annual awards, supported by the Premier League, celebrate influential Black figures shaping the future of British football.

He joins a distinguished list that includes Omar Berrada, Eberechi Eze and Kolo Touré.

Since joining Aston Villa in April 2024 as a First Team Recruitment Analyst, Din-Kariuki has risen swiftly, earning promotion to Lead Data Scout in March 2025.

His work focuses on integrating advanced statistical models and algorithms into recruitment, helping bridge the gap between traditional scouting and modern data analytics.

His recognition follows another major achievement in late 2025, when he was selected among just 34 scouts globally for the UEFA Elite Scout Programme.

Din-Kariuki’s journey began in Kenya with Kariobangi Sharks as a goalkeeper coach in 2016, before moving to Europe where he held roles at Oxford United and AC Horsens.

An alumnus of Middlesex University, where he earned two postgraduate degrees in sports-related fields, Din-Kariuki represents a new generation of football professionals leveraging data to shape elite performance.

His inclusion in the Football Black List not only highlights his personal achievements but also underscores the growing global influence of Kenyan expertise in modern football.