From Social Media Threads to Serie A Sidelines
Everyone online claims to be a football expert — but for once, one really was.
Serie A club Como 1907 has appointed 20-year-old Felix Johnston as a first-team scout, marking a stunning rise for someone who began as a Chelsea content creator on X (formerly Twitter).
Johnston first gained recognition for his insightful analysis of Chelsea academy prospects, creating threads that highlighted young talents. Today, he’s helping Cesc Fabregas, Como’s manager and former Arsenal and Chelsea midfielder, discover the next generation of stars.
“It started with my friend messaging me during lockdown saying, ‘You need to get on Twitter — that’s where football talk happens,’” Johnston shared on BBC Radio 5 Live.
That one suggestion sparked a journey from fan-made scouting reports to professional football analysis.
Turning Passion Into a Career
As Chelsea’s transfer strategy shifted toward youth, Johnston began scouting young players worldwide. He spent late nights studying clips of Kendry Páez and Estêvão, analyzing their movements and potential. His posts began catching the eyes of professionals in the football world — transforming his hobby into a pathway into scouting.
By April, Johnston landed a short-term role with Danish side Vejle as a scouting consultant. Just a few months later, Como’s director of recruitment reached out after following his posts online.
“He liked what I was tweeting and said he wanted to bring in younger, modern scouts,” Johnston said. “Nine weeks after that message, I was officially part of the club.”
Now balancing his scouting work with university studies in Milan, Johnston focuses on reviewing players flagged by Como’s data department. His reports combine statistical insights with traditional scouting — watching at least five full games per player before making recommendations.
A Modern Approach to Talent Discovery
Working under a recruitment director who previously led data analytics at AZ Alkmaar, Johnston operates within a forward-thinking system that blends data-driven selection with human observation.
“Como want to bring in fresh, young minds who understand the modern game,” Johnston noted. The club’s progress — currently seventh in Serie A — suggests the approach is paying off.
His latest pick to watch? 16-year-old Deinner Ordonez, a defender from Independiente del Valle, the same academy that produced Moises Caicedo.
From social media analysis to professional scouting, Felix Johnston’s story proves that passion, consistency, and knowledge can turn even a Twitter thread into a professional breakthrough.
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