Data Scientist - Men\'s First Team in Liverpool

Who are we: Everton Football Club is one of world sport's most respected and revered names - a by-word for innovation, professionalism and community. During the course of a glittering history spanning three centuries, we have been shaped and guided by our aspirational motto Nil Satis Nisi Optimum - nothing but the best is good enough. One of only three clubs to have been a founder member of both the Football League and Premier League, our Men’s Senior team has played more games in English football's top‑flight than any other, winning nine league titles, five FA Cups and a European Cup Winners’ Cup. Now in our state‑of‑the‑art Hill Dickinson Stadium – a 52,769‑capacity new home on the banks of Liverpool’s iconic River Mersey, we remain committed to developing and supporting teams across our Men’s, Women’s and Academy set‑ups that inspire and continue to compete at the highest level of the game.

About the opportunity: We are looking for an ambitious and research‑driven Data Scientist to join our Men’s 1st Team Performance Insights department. In this role, you will be at the forefront of transforming complex football data into clear, actionable intelligence that enhances decision‑making across coaching, recruitment, performance, and strategy.

Key Responsibilities

• Modelling & Research
  • Develop and validate statistical and machine‑learning models that forecast performance and quantify key behaviours across players, possessions, and tactical patterns.
  • Design and implement metrics that quantify player effectiveness, team cohesion, and stylistic compatibility.
  • Construct simulations and analytical frameworks to assess risk, evaluate ‘what‑if’ scenarios, and quantify uncertainty in decision‑making.
  • Ensure all modelling approaches are robust, interpretable, and grounded in sound probabilistic and statistical principles.
• Operationalisation & Collaboration
  • Work closely with the wider team to validate concepts, deploy models efficiently, and maintain high standards of reliability and scalability.
  • Build internal tools and visual applications to make insights accessible to key stakeholders.
  • Communicate findings clearly to technical and non‑technical stakeholders, translating complex outputs into football‑relevant insight.
  • Keep abreast of modern advances in sports analytics, machine learning, and AI, and proactively disseminate insights to colleagues.

Who we are looking for: You will be an innovative problem‑solver with strong analytical thinking and attention to detail. You will need to be able to grasp relevant footballing problems, formulate the problems mathematically, and find solutions to the problems using suitable analytical and numerical methods. You will hold a degree in a quantitative field and have a strong foundation in statistics alongside hands‑on machine‑learning experience. You’ll also be highly proficient in SQL and Python or R, with the ability to work with and manipulate real‑world data effectively. You will be an excellent communicator who is comfortable collaborating with diverse stakeholders and conveying technical ideas simply and efficiently. These skills will ideally be complemented by a deep interest in football and a strong understanding of the game’s strategic nuances.

The role is permanent and will be based at Finch Farm training ground in Liverpool (Halewood); working 40 hours per week, the closing date of this advert is Friday 2nd January 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a substantial amount of applications.

Everton Family Safer Recruitment Practices The Everton Family is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As a requirement of our safer recruitment practices, this role will require either a Enhanced or Basic DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check or evidence that you are subscribed to the DBS Update Service information of which can be found here. This role is subject to both evidence and verification of relevant qualifications including proof of eligibility to work in the UK which will be discussed with you if your application is successful.

Equity & Inclusion Everton is committed to ensuring everyone is respected, celebrated, and empowered for who they are, regardless of their identity. We welcome applications from people with diverse backgrounds, and those from racially diverse communities. We are dedicated to supporting the physical and mental/emotional wellbeing of all our people. Should you have a disability or long‑term health condition and require reasonable adjustments to be made to the application/interview/onboarding process, please let us know by contacting the Talent Acquisition Team via email careers@evertonfc.com. To support our pledge to diversify our organisation and through our commitment to the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code, Everton welcomes applications from people of all walks of life. As part of our commitment to Disability, Inclusion and Accessibility we are more than happy to make reasonable adjustments to the recruitment process should you require.