In modern football scouting, traditional metrics like goals and assists no longer provide the full picture of a player’s value—especially when evaluating creative players whose influence often starts earlier in attacking sequences. If you’re scouting midfielders, wide creators, or deep-lying playmakers, xG Chains is a powerful metric that can help uncover their true impact on chance creation.
This article explains what xG Chain is, why it’s useful when scouting playmakers, and how to apply it effectively within a modern analysis workflow.
What are xG Chains?
xG Chains (Expected Goals Chain) measure the total expected goals (xG) of every shot a player is involved in during the build-up, regardless of whether they took the shot or played the final pass. If a player touches the ball during a possession that ends in a shot, they receive credit for the xG value of that shot.
For example:
- Player A passes to Player B
- Player B carries the ball and plays it to Player C
- Player C shoots, and the xG of the shot is 0.25
All three players—A, B, and C—receive 0.25 xG Chain for that sequence.
Unlike xG Buildup, which excludes shots and key passes, xG Chain accounts for every player involved in a shot-ending possession. It captures broader creative involvement—not just the final actions.
Why xG Chains are Valuable for Scouting Playmakers
Playmakers, especially those operating in deeper or intermediate zones, often go under the radar in traditional stats. They may not rack up assists or goals, but they’re key facilitators of attacking moves. xG Chain highlights these players by tracking their involvement in valuable attacking sequences.
Key Benefits for Scouting
1. Uncovers hidden influence
Playmakers who regularly initiate or connect key sequences show up with high xG Chain values, even if they don’t score or assist.
2. Highlights consistency
A high xG Chain per 90 minutes reflects frequent involvement in quality attacking moves across matches—not just isolated moments of brilliance.
3. Identifies undervalued profiles
Some players with low market visibility but high xG Chain numbers may be undervalued gems, especially in leagues where data is less scrutinized.
4. Connects role to impact
Whether you’re scouting a central midfielder, inverted winger, or deep-lying playmaker, xG Chain helps you evaluate how their role translates into team-level attacking value.
Case Study: Comparing Creative Midfielders
Imagine you’re scouting central midfielders for a possession-based team. You assess three players with similar roles but very different outputs.
Player A
A balanced midfielder with modest direct output. His xG Chain shows he’s regularly involved in valuable attacking sequences—likely a connector in the buildup.
Player B
Despite low goal involvement, Player B has the highest xG Chain/90, suggesting he’s often involved early in chance creation. His profile fits a deep-lying or second-phase playmaker.
Player C
Player C has the highest direct output and a solid xG Chain. He likely plays closer to the final third, operating as a No. 10 or attacking winger.
Takeaway
Player C is productive, but Player B’s high xG Chain/90 points to a valuable, under-the-radar creative role. For a team needing build-up quality and tempo control, Player B could be the more tactical fit despite his lower traditional stats.
How to Use xG Chains in Your Scouting Workflow
To get the most out of xG Chain, combine it with video and contextual data. Here’s a step-by-step scouting approach:
1. Use xG Chain/90 as a filter
Start with large datasets (e.g., all U23 midfielders in top 25 leagues) and identify those with consistently high xG Chain values per 90.
2. Look at positional context
Check touch maps, heatmaps, and average position data to see where on the pitch the player operates. High xG Chain numbers from deep zones often indicate elite build-up qualities.
3. Combine with other metrics
Cross-reference xG Chain with:
- xA (Expected Assists)
- Progressive passes and carries
- Final third or penalty area entries
- Pressures or defensive contributions (for complete profiles)
4. Watch shot-ending possessions on video
Observe how the player contributes. Are they breaking lines, drawing pressure, or accelerating tempo? Or are they passive passers benefiting from others’ creativity?
5. Track game-to-game consistency
Does their xG Chain spike in isolated matches or remain steady over time? Consistent output across multiple matches is a strong indicator of reliability.
Limitations of xG Chain
Like any metric, xG Chain has limitations:
- It rewards all involvement equally, even if a player’s pass was insignificant in the build-up.
- Players in dominant teams naturally benefit from more shot-ending sequences.
- It can be inflated by volume, not necessarily quality.
To mitigate these issues, always contextualize with video analysis and complementary metrics like ball progression and chance creation under pressure.
Final Thoughts
For scouts and analysts, xG Chain is a powerful tool to identify and understand creative players who make teams tick. It goes beyond surface-level statistics and rewards the facilitators—the ones who start and connect attacking chains, not just those who finish them.
If you’re scouting for playmakers who drive performance but don’t always top highlight reels, xG Chain can be your edge in finding value others overlook.
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