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Return on investment · Sep 16, 2025

How the use of data can bring quick return on investment — Mahmudu Bajo

When football clubs lean into analytics, magic can happen.

Last year, one of AKARI's clients — DAC 1904 Dunajská Streda — flagged the then-20-year-old Gambian midfielder Mahmudu Bajo in the Slovakian first division based on the AKARI Potential indicator.

Bajo's profile, with impressive data markers combined with extensive video analysis, convinced DAC 1904 to recruit the Gambian defensive midfielder from Železiarne Podbrezová for €350K.

During the 24/25 season, Bajo demonstrated his qualities through physicality and a dynamic playing style, creating a distinctive midfield profile. His breakthrough campaign with DAC 1904 attracted significant attention. After appearing in only 35 games, Bajo completed a €3.5M transfer to Serbian champions Red Star Belgrade.

Data-driven scouting in combination with traditional scouting can make the difference — and can generate a significant return on investment.

This sale marks another record transaction for DAC 1904, following comparable deals involving Nikola Krstović (now Atalanta Bergamo) and András Schäfer (now Union Berlin). We look forward to the future prospects DAC 1904 will identify through their data-driven methodology — and to Bajo's performance trajectory at Red Star.