Profile
Samuel Martínez Valencia is a 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder born on April 5, 2009, in Tuluá, Colombia. 184cm, right-footed. Product of the Atlético Nacional youth academy. On July 21, 2026, Liverpool FC announced his signing for approximately £750,000 on a five-year contract. He will remain at Nacional for the 2026-27 season (loan-back arrangement) before joining Liverpool's Academy ahead of the 2027-28 season. Represented Colombia U17 at the Sudamericano Sub-17 2026 (champions) and the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2025 in Qatar. Agent: GEGEN Football. Contract with Nacional expires June 30, 2027.
T3 Status
0/16 T3 sub-metrics validated. No video assessment has been conducted. All 16 Empire FGA sub-metrics (OBI_T, OBI_S, OBI_P, SII_A, SII_T, SII_R, DMA, CHR, MCS, SOA, SPI, CLM, CRS, OMS, DYN, CRK) are pending. Recommended match selection: 5 matches from Sudamericano U17 2026 (vs Brazil SF, vs Argentina Final, vs Paraguay, vs Uruguay, vs Chile) plus Nacional U20 2026-27 fixtures once season begins. Minimum 2 matches vs top-third opposition, 1 away match, 1 match where team was losing.
Empire FGA Verdict
FGA — PENDING · LIVERPOOL ACADEMY SIGNING · SUDAMERICANO CHAMP · T3 REQUIRED. Samuel Martínez is a 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder whose Tier 1 profile is elite for his age cohort: Sudamericano champion, 3 assists in 6 apps, Liverpool £750K signing. However, no Tier 3 video assessment exists. The Empire FGA system cannot generate a score, composite, or projection without video evidence. Marca describes him as "a modern midfielder, with a box-to-box ability to cover both ends of the pitch, combining the refined technique of South American football with the physical intensity demanded by today's game." This description suggests high OBI, DMA, and SII potential — but T3 must confirm it. Immediate next step: video scoring pass across 5+ matches.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Result | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Group | ~Mar 2026 | Chile U17 | W | — | Assist recorded |
| Group | ~Mar 2026 | Paraguay U17 | W · 0-2 | 7.1 | Away · 12/04 |
| Group | ~Mar 2026 | Uruguay U17 | — | — | 1 Yellow Card |
| SF | 16/04/2026 | Brazil U17 | W · 0-3 | 6.6 | Assist · Away |
| Final | 20/04/2026 | Argentina U17 | W · 0-4 | 6.6 | Assist · Champion |
| Tournament Total | 6/6 | 7.1 avg | 0G · 3A · 1YC | ||
T3 Radar Pending
Upload the Tier 3 Excel file to populate the radar chart with validated sub-metric scores. All 16 metrics will be visualized here once video scoring is complete.
Technical / Off-Ball
Mental
Physical
Attribute Radar Pending
Upload the Tier 3 Excel file to unlock the attribute radar chart. The radar will compare Martínez against U17 midfielder averages and senior benchmarks once video scoring is complete.
Tier 1 — Transfermarkt · Fotmob · Sofascore · Liverpool FC
Tier 2 — Composite Scores
Tier 2 Locked
Tier 2 composites (CRE, MEN, PAC, PAS, OBI) are calculated from confirmed Tier 3 sub-metrics. With 0/16 T3 metrics confirmed, these cannot be generated. Upload the Tier 3 Excel file to unlock.
FGA Weighting Breakdown
LOG Context
Sudamericano U17: Brazil · Argentina · Paraguay · Uruguay · Chile
Future: Liga Dimayor U20 (Nacional) · Liverpool Academy
No T3 scored matches
LOG 2.5 represents elite youth international competition. All 6 Sudamericano matches were against CONMEBOL elite youth sides. Future assessment should include Nacional U20 (LOG ~2.0) and potentially Liverpool Academy friendlies (LOG ~2.5-3.0).
Tier 3 · Pending · 0/16 Confirmed
OBI_S: 0 events — Space architecture not scored
OBI_P: 0 events — Positional anticipation not scored
Marca suggests "box-to-box" = high OBI potential
SII_T: 0 events — Top-end speed not scored
SII_R: 0 events — Recovery sprint not scored
Marca: "physical intensity" = high SII potential
⏳ DMA · CHR · MCS · SOA · SPI · CLM
⏳ CRS · OMS · DYN · CRK
0/16 sub-metrics confirmed — awaiting video file
Cross-League Performance Projection
Cross-league contextualization requires a confirmed FGA score built on validated Tier 3 sub-metrics. Samuel Martínez currently has 0/16 T3 metrics confirmed. No projection can be made.
Projections Locked
Upload the Tier 3 Excel file to unlock cross-league projections. The system will calculate LOG-adjusted scores for Liga Dimayor, Premier League (Liverpool), Brasilerão, and Eredivisie once video scoring is complete.
Future Projection Targets (Pending T3)
Top 8 Philosophy Fits (Tier 1 Estimate)
Philosophy Radar Pending
Upload the Tier 3 Excel file to populate the philosophy radar. Tier 1 estimates above are based on Marca's "box-to-box" description and Sudamericano assist data — they will be recalculated from video evidence once Tier 3 is loaded.
Tactical Archetype (Estimate)
"The Bielsa / Klopp Box-to-Box Midfielder" — A modern midfielder with the physical intensity to cover both ends of the pitch and the refined South American technique to progress the ball. The 3 assists in 6 Sudamericano apps suggest strong DMA and SPI. The 184cm frame and "physical intensity" description (Marca) suggest strong SII_A and SII_T potential. The Liverpool signing validates the profile for English football. All estimates are theoretical until T3 confirms.
Career Statistics
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | Nacional U17/U20 | Youth League | ~15 | ~2 | ~4 |
| 2025 | Colombia U17 | U17 World Cup | ~4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2026 | Colombia U17 | Sudamericano U17 | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| 2026-27 | Nacional U20 | Liga Dimayor U20 | — | — | — |
| Youth Total (est.) | ~25+ | ~2 | ~7 | ||
Transfer Ladder
| From → To | Fee | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Nacional Academy → Nacional U20 | — | 2024 |
| Nacional U20 → Liverpool FC | £750K | 2026 |
| Future pathway | Nacional → Liverpool Academy → First Team? | |
Honours
| Honour | Year | Team |
|---|---|---|
| Sudamericano Sub-17 | 2026 | Colombia U17 |
| FIFA U-17 World Cup | 2025 | Colombia U17 (participant) |
Physical Profile
Development Notes
✓ Positive Filters (Tier 1 Only)
- Liverpool FC signing — £750K, five-year contract — Elite club validation of potential. Liverpool's scouting network is among the world's best
- Sudamericano champion — 3 assists in 6 apps — Tournament performance at elite youth international level. Assisted in both semi-final (vs Brazil) and final (vs Argentina)
- 6/6 Sudamericano appearances — Durability and coach trust confirmed. Played every minute of Colombia's title run
- 7.1 average rating (365scores) — Consistent above-average performance across tournament
- 184cm at 17 years old — Excellent physical frame for a midfielder. Room for further growth
- Marca description: "modern midfielder, box-to-box, physical intensity + refined technique" — Profile fits modern European football demands
- Right-footed attacking midfielder — Natural goal threat from central positions
- Agent: GEGEN Football (verified) — Professional representation suggests serious career management
- Loan-back to Nacional 2026-27 — Sensible development plan. Continued first-team minutes before Liverpool move
- U17 World Cup 2025 experience — Prior international exposure. Not a one-tournament wonder
- Tuluá, Colombia origin — Strong footballing culture. Same region as other Colombian talents
⚠ Caution Signals (Tier 1 Only)
- 0 goals in 6 Sudamericano apps — As an attacking midfielder, goal contribution is expected. 3 assists is good but 0 goals raises questions about finishing ability
- 1 yellow card in tournament — Discipline flag. Need to see context (tactical foul vs frustration)
- £750K fee is modest — Liverpool's investment is significant but not blockbuster. Suggests high potential but unproven at senior level
- No senior club football — All experience is youth international + academy. Huge jump to Liverpool Academy
- Liverpool Academy is not a guarantee — Many South American youth signings struggle to transition to English football
- Only 1 assist in 4 U17 World Cup apps — Production dropped at the higher level. Needs consistency verification
- "Physical intensity" claim unverified — Marca's description is journalistic, not metric. T3 must confirm
- Loan-back means no Liverpool assessment possible until 2027 — 12+ month delay before English context evaluation
✗ Critical Gaps
- 0/16 T3 metrics confirmed — NO VIDEO EVIDENCE — The most critical gap. Every technical, mental, and physical claim is theoretical. Empire FGA cannot validate any attribute without video
- No FGA score possible — Without T3, the system cannot generate a score, composite, or projection
- Cross-league projections prohibited — Cannot project to Premier League, Liga Dimayor, or any other league
- Philosophy fits are estimates only — The Bielsa/Klopp box-to-box archetype is a hypothesis based on Marca's description. T3 may reveal a completely different profile
- No match video links provided — Cannot even begin scoring without footage
- Sudamericano footage may be limited — Youth tournament broadcasting can have camera limitations (fixed angles, blind sides)
- Physical maturation unknown — 184cm at 17 is promising but body composition, strength, and speed are all unmeasured
- Mental profile completely unknown — CHR, MCS, CLM, CRS all pending. No data on how he responds to adversity, pressure, or clutch moments
◆ Empire FGA Verdict
FGA — PENDING · LIVERPOOL ACADEMY SIGNING · SUDAMERICANO CHAMP · T3 REQUIRED. Samuel Martínez Valencia is a 17-year-old Colombian attacking midfielder whose Tier 1 profile is elite for his age cohort: Sudamericano champion, 3 assists in 6 apps, Liverpool £750K signing on a five-year contract. Marca describes him as "a modern midfielder, with a box-to-box ability to cover both ends of the pitch, combining the refined technique of South American football with the physical intensity demanded by today's game." This description suggests high OBI, DMA, and SII potential — but the Empire FGA system cannot validate any of these claims without Tier 3 video evidence. All 16 sub-metrics are pending. No FGA score. No cross-league projection. No confirmed tactical archetype. The Liverpool signing is a market validation, not an Empire FGA validation. Immediate next step: video scoring pass across 5+ matches (Sudamericano 2026 + Nacional U20 2026-27). Recommended match selection: vs Brazil SF, vs Argentina Final, vs Paraguay, vs Uruguay, vs Chile — plus 2+ Nacional U20 matches once season begins. Upload the Tier 3 Excel file when ready and the card will auto-populate.
Video Scoring Instructions
Step 1 — Match Register
Enter: Samuel Martínez Valencia, Attacking Midfield, Liga Dimayor U20 / Sudamericano U17, 2025-2026.
Complete MATCH_REGISTER with all 5 matches before scoring.
Balance check: ≥2 vs top-third | ≥1 away | ≥1 losing.
Step 2 — Metric Pass
Log: timestamp (MM:SS), description, quality 1-10.
Recommended order: OBI_P → DMA → SII_A → SOA → SPI → CHR → MCS → remainder.
~45 min per match per metric.
Step 3 — Upload
Upload file to this chat.
Card will auto-populate: all 16 metrics, FGA score, radar charts, cross-league projections, and scouting verdict.
This card is ready to activate.