Combining Football Manager and the stock market, Nordensa is looking to change the game as Joseph Iyendjock becomes the fan-backed recruitment platform’s first athlete to land a contract in European football
Imagine being a young footballer from a small town in Cameroon, with a dream of playing in Europe. For 20-year-old Joseph Iyendjock, this dream has finally become a reality, thanks to a revolutionary new platform called Nordensa. Iyendjock has made history by becoming the first fan-backed player to sign a contract with a club in European football, joining Georgian champions Dinamo Tbilisi on a two-year contract. This incredible journey began when Iyendjock was scouted by Nordensa, a fan-powered platform that allows investors to support young players from underexplored countries in achieving their dreams of playing in Europe. With the help of fans who raised £15,000 in just 10 days, Iyendjock was able to showcase his talents in front of Dinamo Tbilisi, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Iyendjock’s story highlights the current flaws in talent spotting, which make it difficult for gifted youngsters, especially in Africa and Asia, to be recruited. As he himself admitted, “It’s extremely difficult to get noticed in Africa, where not much data is available for football players.” However, with the help of Nordensa, Iyendjock was able to overcome these barriers and take the first step towards realizing his dream. The platform’s CEO and founder, Adrian Docea, explained that the idea for Nordensa came from his own experiences playing Championship Manager, where he realized that there was a lack of career paths for scouts. Docea’s vision is to address two big problems in football: the lack of opportunities for talented kids in developing countries and the limited involvement of fans in the sport they love. By providing a platform for fans to invest in young players, Nordensa is giving them a chance to be part of the game and to benefit from their knowledge and investment.
The Nordensa app provides an in-depth analysis of the players scouted by the company, allowing investors to make informed decisions about who to back. In Iyendjock’s case, contributors bought a total of 600 contract shares, priced at £26 each, which entitled them to a cut of up to eight percent of the player’s salary for the next five years, as well as other exclusive perks. This innovative approach is taking video game talent spotting into the real world, allowing interested parties to benefit from their knowledge of the game and investment in exciting prospects. As Iyendjock himself said, “I would’ve probably stayed at my former club if not for the funding. The guys said I have over 160 supporters from 25 different countries. These are people that didn’t know me before, that believe in my talent and what the scouts had to say.” Iyendjock is forever grateful to these supporters, who have given him a once-in-a-lifetime chance to impress on the continent and maybe, one day, grace the stages of the European elites.
Nordensa’s team of scouts, led by former scout for Bayern Munich and current head of scouting for Basel, Max Legath, work tirelessly to identify talented young players from around the world. Legath explained that the top clubs often focus on the top prospects, but there are always other players on the pitch who have the potential to make it to the top. “If they are playing at U20s African or South American championship, they are good, and it’s just some percentage points that are missing to make it to the top,” he said. “And from my experience, the most important currency for a young player to reach the top is playing time. It’s not the first transfer, it’s not the first contract.” Nordensa is now looking to its next fan-backed star, with Nigerian attacking midfielder Samson Lawal and Algerian winger Nasreddine Bouldjedri already on their radar.
Iyendjock’s move to Dinamo Tbilisi is not just a major milestone for him, but also for Nordensa, which is proving that its model can work. The company’s aim is to create a platform that allows fans to be part of the game, to support young players, and to share in their future success. As Docea explained, “Talented kids in developing countries don’t get a fair chance to be noticed. Then there are like five billion people who love football, and what they get is a remote control and no control. That’s all. I mean, it’s stupid. But they just don’t get the chance to get involved in the sport they love.” Nordensa is changing this, one player at a time. Iyendjock’s story is a testament to the power of innovation and the impact that a platform like Nordensa can have on the lives of young footballers.
As Iyendjock settles into his new life in Georgia, he is relishing the opportunity to learn and improve, to prove himself, and to become one of the best players in the league. Dinamo Tbilisi is a club with a rich history, regularly featuring in the Champions League’s qualification rounds. Iyendjock is aware of the challenges that lie ahead, but he is confident that he has the talent, the dedication, and the support to succeed. With Nordensa behind him, Iyendjock is ready to take on the world, one game at a time. As he said, “I came here to learn and improve, but also to prove myself. I can’t wait to rub shoulders with my teammates and will patiently wait for an opportunity to help the team on the field. I want to bring my contribution and become one of the best players in the league.” The future is bright for Joseph Iyendjock, and Nordensa is proud to be a part of his journey.
