Kenyan recruitment expert Naythan Din-Kariuki joins the UEFA Elite Scout Programme.
Kenyan recruitment specialist Naythan Din-Kariuki has earned a place in the prestigious UEFA Elite Scout Programme (ESP), a three-month international course designed to sharpen the skills of professional scouts across Europe.
This comes just a year after he was appointed as First Team Recruitment Analyst at English Premier League club Aston Villa, where he has been part of the setup since August 2024 as the team prepared for its UEFA Champions League return.
Sharing the news on LinkedIn, Din-Kariuki wrote:
“Excited to share that I’ve been accepted onto the UEFA Elite Scout Programme (UEFA Academy), beginning Tuesday in London. It’s a small cohort, and I feel truly honoured to be included. I’m grateful for the opportunity to learn from some of the very best in the game and gain insight into different perspectives and processes.”
He noted that the programme combines expertise from former players, recruitment heads, coaches, and data-driven scouts, creating a diverse environment for learning and knowledge exchange.
Organised by the UEFA Academy, the Elite Scout Programme features classroom sessions, advanced scouting tools, and applied case studies with leading European clubs. Its goal is to develop future-ready recruitment professionals capable of driving success at the highest levels of football.
Din-Kariuki’s journey is a remarkable one, from serving as a goalkeepers’ coach at Kariobangi Sharks in Kenya to now standing among Europe’s elite scouts. His achievement is a proud milestone for Kenyan football and a symbol of how local expertise can rise onto the global stage.
