By Shahzad Saleem
Cambridge United Football Club is stepping into the future by adopting artificial intelligence to handle player and employee contracts—a move the club believes will save significant time and reduce legal expenses.
In what’s considered a first in professional football, Cambridge United has partnered with local tech firm Genie AI to automate the drafting and reviewing of contracts, not just for players but for all staff and commercial dealings. This comes at a strategic moment, with the club aiming to finalize several new player signings ahead of the 1 September transfer deadline.
While AI has previously been used in football for data analysis and performance tracking, Cambridge United is pioneering its direct application in legal contract management.
Alex Tunbridge, the club’s CEO, highlighted the benefits of this innovation: “There’s growing excitement around AI in Cambridge and across football. Working with a locally grown company like Genie AI keeps us ahead of the curve. If we can maintain legal quality while reducing costs and turnaround times, it allows us to channel those savings back into our players, stadium, and fan experience.”
Genie AI’s co-founder and CEO, Rafie Faruq, expressed his pride in collaborating with his hometown club: “As someone who grew up in Cambridge, it’s an honour to help the club navigate player signings using AI while staying fully compliant with Football League regulations.”
The AI-powered system is expected to go live this month, marking a bold new chapter for Cambridge United in both sport and technology.
