By Martin Graham
In an era when everyone online seems to claim expertise, one young football enthusiast has turned his digital passion into a professional breakthrough.
Como 1907, a Serie A club led by Cesc Fabregas, has appointed 20-year-old Felix Johnston as a first-team scout. His journey began not at a club or academy but on social media, where he built a reputation as a Chelsea-focused analyst on X (formerly Twitter).
Through detailed observations and data-driven commentary on Chelsea’s academy prospects, Johnston became a known figure among fans and even within parts of the football community.
building a following from passion and persistence
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club, Johnston described how a lockdown message from a friend first drew him to the platform.
“He said, ‘You’ve got to get on Twitter, that’s where the football talk is,’” Johnston recalled. Taking the advice seriously, he began posting regularly, eventually focusing on Chelsea’s youth setup.
Watching academy fixtures and following player development soon became his trademark. “It became my thing — seeing young players come through; that’s what people followed me for,” he said.
As Chelsea’s recruitment strategy shifted toward signing young talents, Johnston found even more material to analyze. He spent late nights studying players such as Kendry Páez and Estevão at youth tournaments while identifying new prospects independently. Recognition from people within the football world helped him realize scouting could become more than a hobby.
First professional steps and Como’s call
Johnston’s first experience in professional football came in April when he joined Danish side Vejle as a scouting consultant. Just a few months later, in July, an opportunity arose from Italy.
“The director of recruitment at Como reached out on Twitter,” Johnston said. “He liked what I was doing and wanted to bring in some younger, modern scouts. I agreed to an internship, and nine weeks later, I was hired.”
Now balancing university studies in Milan with his new role, Johnston works within a data-driven recruitment structure.
The club’s head of scouting, formerly head of data at AZ Alkmaar, assigns him players flagged through analytics. Johnston then evaluates them through match footage and compiles detailed reports.
Inside the life of a modern scout
Johnston typically watches around five complete matches before finalizing an initial report, though the number can vary depending on a player’s involvement.
“If someone plays in a team that rarely has the ball, I might have to watch more to get enough evidence,” he explained. His work isn’t limited to a single country or position, making his responsibilities broad and varied.
He describes Como as a “forward-thinking club” eager to embrace modern scouting methods. Their current position — seventh in Serie A during only their second season back in the top division — suggests that innovation is paying off.
A new eye for emerging talent
Now, instead of posting analysis for followers online, Johnston’s insights go directly to Fabregas and Como’s recruitment team.
Asked about one player who has caught his attention, Johnston highlighted 16-year-old Deinner Ordonez, a center-back at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, the same academy that produced Moises Caicedo.
“They’ve developed a lot of talented players, and he’s another one,” Johnston said.
From social media threads to scouting reports in a Serie A club, Johnston’s path reflects how digital expertise can translate into real-world football success.
