Glossary

The metrics, in plain terms.

Every SigningLab analysis follows the same dimensions, so directors, coaches and executives read different reports with a single grammar. This page defines each metric and separates the public index from the proprietary model.

What does SigningLab measure?

Score 0-100

SigningLab Score

The overall grade for a signing. It combines expected success, squad fit, risk, value for money and deal viability into a single number.

Probability %

Success Probability

The probability that the player delivers performance at or above the baseline expected for the level of investment.

Score 0-100

Fit Score

How well the player matches a specific destination club: profile, playing style, competitive context and squad needs. Fit, not talent alone, decides whether a signing works.

Index

Availability

Expected availability across a season, reading injury history and physical profile. A player only returns value on the pitch.

Category

Risk Level

A four-level rating (Low, Moderate, High, Critical) covering injury risk, adaptation risk and the risk of a performance drop.

Value

Latent Value

Cost-benefit and resale potential. It identifies undervalued players with a chance to outperform more expensive signings.

Value €/$

Fair Value

An estimated fair price for the deal, based on recent comparables adjusted for age, contract and expected performance.

Public metric

Accuracy Rate

The model's historical hit rate, validated and published each season. A transparency and credibility metric. See accuracy.

How is signing success defined?

A signing counts as a success when the player performed at or above the baseline expected for the level of investment, read on minutes, performance, availability and collective contribution. Outcomes at the expected level count as neutral; clear underperformance counts as a miss. The same definition is applied across leagues and seasons.

Four figures that should not be confused

Market hit rate

The share of all signings in a league that worked, with no model involved. Roughly one in three across the leagues we track.

Club hit rate

The same measure for a single club, used in the public rankings to compare how well clubs convert signings into performance.

PIS, the public index

A retrospective, public evaluation index used in the annual reports. A simplified, transparent version meant for general understanding, not the commercial model.

Model accuracy

The validated, ex-ante hit rate of the SigningLab predictive model, about 81 percent on average in 2025. The commercial models are distinct from the public index, and their internal architecture, features and weighting are not disclosed.