Sheffield United set to seal new AI-driven signing - He was expected to move to Russia | OneFootball

They have made their third signing of the summer under their new AI recruitment model

Sheffield United are moving towards their third AI-driven signing under their new tech-focused recruitment model.

The Blades have already signed two players from Bulgaria’s top tier, and have returned to the same league to pick up a third from Septembri Sofia.

The youngster was thought to be heading for a move to Russia, but United’s AI-model intercepted that move to make an approach of their own.

It’s a model that has faced some criticism from fans, and received a little pushback from new manager Ruben Selles, who urged the need to use a human eye too, but the Blades seem committed in testing the method out.

Blades to sign third player from Bulgarian top tier

United are closing in on an agreement to bring in 18-year-old defender Mihail Polendakov from efbet Liga outfit Septembri Sofia, according to The Star.

The Bulgaria youth international has played at centre-back, right-back and even right wing-back in his young career.

It was, however, that right-back role that Polendakov spent most of his time last season, making 26 appearances in the league, 22 of which from the start, and recording one assist.

It remains to be seen where he fits in to the Blades setup and whether he links up first with the first team or the academy, due to his youth.

Polendakov to become third AI-driven Sheffield United signing

Polendakov will be joining two other players recruited from the Bulgarian top flight in recent months.

The Blades moved to sign young winger Christian Nwachukwu from Botev Plovdiv back in February, the first signing of its kind for the club, with the player signing a deal until 2027 with a two-year option.

They returned to the same club for another wide man in the form of Ehije Ukaki this summer, handing him a three-year contract and paying the club an undisclosed fee, as they did with Nwachukwu.

Speaking of Nwachukwu’s signing earlier this year, former manager Chris Wilder said: "We are discovering something new here and it may take time before we see some results, but we're open to the new methods and we're looking forward to working with Christian, and others, to see how far we can go with it."

There will be plenty of eyes on Sheffield United’s AI-driven model

The new recruitment model has been pushed and championed by former poker player James Bord, who is driving United’s new approach and is also a minority investor in the Septembri Sofia, where the Yorkshire club are signing Polendakov from.

New Blades boss Selles was quizzed over the club’s use of the technology, urging caution over removing humans from the process completely.

“When you speak about AI and the way it is going, not only in sport but in absolutely everything in life,” Selles began, as quoted by The Star.

“These tools can help us be more efficient, but we have to not forget that we are playing football.

“There is a human interaction and it's a sport we play with a passion. We already use [AI], we will use it going forward, even in recovery and to help us with injuries and things like that. We're always trying to find those marginal gains."

It may be some time before these signings have chance to bed in and develop, so we may not learn the success of the new model for a while yet, but it is certainly an interest system that will have plenty of eyes on it.