diff --git a/internal/metadata/service.go b/internal/metadata/service.go
index db4d5f0a..4b699f87 100644
--- a/internal/metadata/service.go
+++ b/internal/metadata/service.go
@@ -886,6 +886,12 @@ func (s *MetadataService) processInternal(ctx context.Context, req ProcessReques
 					"provider", p.Slug(), "error", err)
 				continue
 			}
+			slog.Debug("metadata: provider search result",
+				"provider", p.Slug(),
+				"query_title", searchQuery.Title,
+				"query_year", searchQuery.Year,
+				"result_count", len(results),
+			)
 			for _, result := range results {
 				if searchResultConflictsWithTrustedIDs(accumulatedIDs, result.ProviderIDs) {
 					slog.Warn("metadata: skipping conflicting search result",
@@ -902,6 +908,12 @@ func (s *MetadataService) processInternal(ctx context.Context, req ProcessReques
 		}
 
 		candidates := NormalizeCandidates(allResults, contentType)
+		slog.Debug("metadata: search candidates assembled",
+			"query_title", searchQuery.Title,
+			"query_year", searchQuery.Year,
+			"raw_results", len(allResults),
+			"candidates", len(candidates),
+		)
 		providerPriority := make([]string, 0, len(itemChain))
 		for _, p := range itemChain {
 			providerPriority = append(providerPriority, p.Slug())