"In November 2025, ESPN attended the annual Hudl Performance Insights conference -- an event circled in the calendar by scouts, data analysts, sports scientists and more all across the globe, with close to 400 people making their way to London to see what the future holds for football. Over the course of an intriguing day tucked away inside Fulham's state-of-the-art new stand at Craven Cottage, here's what ESPN learned about the latest innovations happening behind the scenes in football and how they could change for everyone, with insight from our resident scout Tor-Kristian Karlsen."
"In the last few years, the English Premier League has become a battleground contested by the most athletic players around. There are physical qualities present all over the pitch -- particularly in midfield -- and the all-action style and relentless stamina of Arsenal's Declan Rice has come to define the league, while giant full backs and strong center forwards are everywhere to be seen."
"One thing that was made very clear from conversations with scouts and recruitment analysts from various countries -- including Italy, Germany and Portugal -- is that the Premier League's physicality is not lost on the other top European leagues, who are looking on with envious eyes in the hope of emulating it. For example, sources told ESPN that several Italian clubs have now prioritized the recruitment of goal-scoring midfielders who stand over 6-foot tall -- at least in part thanks to the work Scott McTominay did at Napoli while helping his side to the 2024-25 Scudetto. The Ballon d'Or nominee scored a remarkable 12 goals, several of which were headers following a late run into the box, and players of his style (AC Milan's Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Udinese's Arthur Atta already fit that"
The Hudl Performance Insights conference in November 2025 attracted close to 400 scouts, data analysts and sports scientists to London, showcasing emerging technologies and methods in football performance. Sessions highlighted data-driven scouting, GPS and tracking advancements, and sports-science integration into recruitment and training. Clubs across Europe are increasingly prioritizing physicality, with the Premier League's athletic profile driving demand for tall, goal-scoring midfielders. Italian teams have targeted midfielders over 6 feet following Scott McTominay's 12-goal season at Napoli. Emphasis on physical metrics, tactical versatility and analytics-informed recruitment is reshaping scouting priorities and talent development pathways.
Read at ESPN.com
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