From Twitter to Serie A: Felix Johnston’s Journey from Chelsea Fan to Professional Scout at Como 1907
Everyone on social media seems to call themselves a football expert, or at least tries to be one. But sometimes, those online voices really do know what they’re talking about. One of them is Felix Johnston, a 20-year-old who turned his passion for analyzing Chelsea’s academy players on social media into a professional scouting job at Serie A side Como 1907.
It’s an extraordinary story of dedication, curiosity, and the power of digital platforms in modern football.
The Beginning: A Passion Born During Lockdown
Felix Johnston’s journey began during the COVID-19 lockdown. What started as a simple suggestion from a friend changed his life.
“It started with my friend messaging me during lockdown saying, ‘You need to get on Twitter, that’s where everyone is talking about football,’” Johnston told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Monday Night Club.
He took the advice seriously, joined the football community on Twitter (now X), and began building a following. That’s when he discovered something that would become his passion, the Chelsea academy.
Read More
“I fell in love with watching the academy games, seeing the young players come through. It was what I was known for, my niche on Twitter.”
From that moment, Johnston’s detailed posts about Chelsea’s youth prospects began attracting attention from football fans and professionals alike.
Scouting From the Screen
As Chelsea began focusing on signing and developing younger players, Johnston found himself in the middle of a perfect storm for his content. He started studying youth players across the world and sharing analysis threads, videos, and insights.
“Suddenly their model was all about signing young players so I was staying up until 2am watching Kendry Paez at the Under-17 World Cup, Estevao, then finding talents of my own,” he said.
His in-depth knowledge, commitment, and unique scouting eye gained recognition, even from people within professional football.
“I got a bit of recognition, including from some people in the game, and that made scouting a reality to me. Prior to that, it was just truly a passion.”
Breaking Into Professional Football
Things began moving quickly for Johnston over the past six months. His first professional opportunity came in April 2025, when he was hired by Danish club Vejle as a scouting consultant.
But just a few months later, his career took another major leap forward.
“At the end of July, Como got in touch,” Johnston explained.
Read More
The contact came from the director of recruitment at Como 1907, who had seen Johnston’s posts online and liked his work.
“The director of recruitment [at Como] reached out to me on Twitter saying he liked what I was tweeting and that he would like to do an internship and find some modern, younger scouts to bring into the club,” Johnston said.
He accepted the offer immediately and nine weeks later, he was offered a full-time position as a first-team scout for the Serie A club.
Working Under Cesc Fabregas
Como 1907, managed by former Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, are known for their progressive and modern football approach. Johnston now works within a structure that values both data and scouting intuition.
“The director of recruitment who hired me was the head of data at his previous club, AZ Alkmaar, and is a very data-focused guy,” Johnston explained.
“My role, essentially, is that I get passed down data players, watch them on the eye and do a report. I look at the players they ask me to look at. But it’s an all-encompassing role, not restricted by any region or position.”
Johnston said he typically needs to watch five full games of a player to complete an initial report, although that can vary depending on the situation.
“If they play for a low possession side and they’ve not really touched the ball, then I’ll need to watch more just for more evidence,” he added.
Balancing Studies and Professional Football
Despite his professional breakthrough, Johnston is still completing his university studies in Milan. He’s managing to balance both commitments, a challenge he’s happy to take on given the opportunity at hand.
His new role reflects Como’s commitment to innovation and forward-thinking methods.
“It’s not the traditional way into the game, but Como are a very forward-thinking club who want to get the new talent on the scene,” he said.
The results speak for themselves. With Como currently sitting seventh in their second season back in Serie A, the club’s strategy of combining data-driven recruitment with young, modern scouting minds is paying off.
Johnston’s Eye for the Future
Even though he’s still early in his professional journey, Johnston continues to show the same enthusiasm for spotting future stars that made him popular online.
His current standout recommendation is Deinner Ordonez, a 16-year-old centre-back at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, the same academy that produced Moises Caicedo.
“[Ordonez] is a centre-back at Independiente del Valle in Ecuador, the academy that Moises Caicedo came through. They’ve had a lot of talents and he’s very talented.”
Now, instead of sharing his analysis with fans on Twitter, Johnston’s reports go directly to Cesc Fabregas and the Como recruitment team.
A New Pathway for Football Scouts
Felix Johnston’s story is a perfect example of how modern football scouting is evolving. Digital platforms have opened new pathways for passionate and analytical individuals to showcase their understanding of the game.
While traditional routes into scouting often involve years of experience within clubs, Johnston’s rise shows that dedication, skill, and visibility can also lead to professional opportunities.
His transition from social media analyst to Serie A scout proves that genuine insight and hard work can catch the attention of professionals, even from across continents.
What started as a lockdown hobby has turned into a full-time career in football for Felix Johnston. From posting late-night academy analysis on Twitter to helping Serie A club Como 1907 identify transfer targets, his journey reflects the modern era of football recruitment, where knowledge, passion, and online visibility can create real-world opportunities.
Now, Johnston’s scouting reports are sent not to fans on social media, but to Cesc Fabregas and Como’s recruitment department, marking an incredible rise from fan analyst to professional scout in one of Europe’s top leagues.
FAQs
Q1. Who is Felix Johnston?
A. Felix Johnston is a 20-year-old football analyst who began as a Chelsea academy content creator on social media and is now a professional scout for Serie A club Como 1907.
Q2. How did Johnston start his career in football?
A. He began by posting Chelsea academy analysis on Twitter during the lockdown, which gained attention from fans and professionals in football.
Q3. When did Johnston join Como 1907?
A. He joined Como in July 2025 after initially working with Danish club Vejle as a scouting consultant.
Q4. What is his role at Como?
A. He works as a first-team scout, combining data analysis and match observation to identify potential signings for the club.
Q5. Who manages Como 1907?
A. Former Chelsea, Arsenal, and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas is the current manager of Como 1907.
Also Read- Why Footballers Must Get The Yellow Fever Vaccine Before Playing In Angola: Explained
