Dagenham & Redbridge, the National League South club co-owned by YouTuber KSI, have become the latest team to partner with an AI-powered squad planning platform. The club announced a multi-year agreement with Gemini Sports, a company that provides AI-driven solutions for squad planning and player trading.
How Gemini Sports Works
Gemini's platform integrates scouting reports, financial data, market research, and event tracking into a single mobile application. This allows clubs to ask tailored questions about their squad and recruitment needs, generating a shortlist of transfer targets that align with their requirements. The company claims the tool will help Dagenham & Redbridge improve talent identification, performance tracking, and squad planning, while also assisting with club governance.
Club Leadership Comments
Anwar Uddin, Dagenham & Redbridge's non-executive chairman, said: "Working with Gemini will allow us to build a recruitment strategy with the club and its values firmly at the centre. Rather than relying on any one individual's knowledge or network, Gemini provides us with the tools to institutionalise that expertise across the club, ensuring every decision we make is informed by shared insight, robust intelligence, and the fullest possible picture available to futureproof our recruitment."
Existing Partnerships and Success Stories
Dagenham & Redbridge join a growing list of clubs using Gemini, including Championship side QPR, which was the first to enlist the platform. The signing of Richard Kone from Wycombe, who has scored 11 goals in 45 matches this season, was reportedly aided by the app. Other partners include Port Vale, French giants Monaco, and Serie A side Como. Gemini states it has existing partnerships in England, France, Italy, Australia, and the Americas.
KSI's Ambitions for the Club
Since KSI's shock investment in March, the club's profile has risen dramatically. The 32-year-old YouTuber expressed his desire to take the side up the leagues, saying: "It's surreal, bro, out of this world. The idea of it excites me so much. Years ago, I saw the excitement, the happiness, the joy. I want to bring that back and then surpass it. I want the place to be pumping, I want it to be rocking, I want it to be an event whenever you come here."
KSI acknowledged the challenge: "Playing a video game and owning a football club is very different, I know that, but with Race to Division One (his Fifa YouTube series), it was a journey. It was hard, but in the end, I did it. With this club, I want to do the unthinkable. I want to take Dagenham & Redbridge to the Premier League. It's obviously going to take time, but I'd say the realistic goal is getting out of this league and entering the National League. We need to improve the team, make some additions that really take it to another level, and I want to build the community."
New Manager Appointment
On Sunday, the club announced Lee Allinson as their first team manager, joining from fellow National League South side Hemel Hempstead Town. Allinson succeeds former Newcastle, Liverpool, and West Ham forward Andy Carroll, who had been in caretaker charge after KSI sacked boss Lee Bradbury. Dagenham & Redbridge finished 13th in the National League South last season and are now aiming for promotion.
