Jun 08, 2021
The Right Agent (Intermediary)
The Right Agent!
Many parents will have little idea about the role and value of a player agent unless they work within the football industry themselves.
As parents we have the dilemma of either trusting the recommendation of the club but may perceive there could be a conflict of interest between the club, agent and player, or we go it alone and risk making a poor choice of selecting an unsuitable agent.
In 2020 the Football Association added three key regulations for “intermediaries”, in other words agents, who offer representation services to players and clubs.
• The first ensures that the player must be made aware of any offer made to them within 24 hours of the offer having been made.
• The second is agents cannot approach minors, ie before their 16th birthday or before the January in the year when their 16th birthday arises.
• The third key rule is agents must supply all the players they represent with what the FA calls an Annual Return for that year. Agents must detail all payments made to them by the club and any payments deducted from the players salary as part of the agent’s representation services for that player.
Rather than post our desk research on line we thought it would be far more informative if we spoke to a new generation of agent looking to shake up the industry, so we are delighted Jude Ajibewa, CEO of the Disparate Sports Agency, gave up his time to speak with AcademyFootball.Info.
“Hi Jude, it’s great to meet you and thank you for spending time to talk with us about signing with the right agent. I guess most people who read the press will probably have a character image in their mind of a big wheeler dealer who negotiates multi-million-pound deals like Jorge Mendes or the late Eric Hall.
What is the role of an agent and who do they really represent?
“Agents can perform two roles. The first is the representation of the player and the second is when an agent is called in by a club to help a player deal with an issue or to help them move on to another club if there is no longer a role for them at the current club.
Clubs endeavour to acquire players at the lowest optimal price and it’s the agent’s role to maximise the earnings of the player. The aim is to help reach a position where both club and player believe they have reached a good deal. A win-win as they say.”
At what point should parents and players consider using the services of agents?
“In clubs with category one and two academies, agents could well be engaged when the player turns 16. However, it usually starts when the player turns 18/19 years old or when they are offered a professional contract. Up until that point, there isn’t really a lot to discuss or negotiate.”
How do you go about finding an agent?
“You must do your research. Search online and look through an agent’s website. You want to check out who they look after and see if it’s an impressive portfolio of players and if the players they represent are like you or at your level and here you have to be realistic. Top agents focus on the very best players to maximise their earnings.
Check out client references and ensure the agent is registered with the Football Association (FA). All official agents are registered with the FA. Agents are not required to have any formal qualifications but increasingly they are degree qualified in sports management and some have a law degree and maybe are a practising lawyer. They pay a fee to the FA and register themselves and their services. Their details are listed on the FA website.
The real value of an agent comes down to how well they are connected in the sport and how well they are commercially connected. You should also consider recommendations from other players you know and trust and the club. The club get to deal with numerous agents and know who is effective and easy to do business with. Agents should have good people and communication skills both written and verbal, after all, this is a people business.”
Could you tell us about the scope of work agents are involved in?
“Sure, most people will know agents for handling transfer negotiations and helping young players join clubs on a professional basis but they also look after other commercial arrangements too.
This can be buying boots for a player, obtaining sponsorship contracts and maximising the players earning potential, both on and off the pitch, through advertising and endorsements, hence why the agent’s network and commercial experience is so important.
They can be called in to manage disputes with the club and deal with issues like racism if the player believes the club isn’t dealing with the issue effectively. Agents can help players deal with other issues like confidence and mental health issues and intervene if the player isn’t getting enough time on the pitch.
If they can’t help directly, they can bring in qualified people to help players through difficult times, set a recovery road map that’s right for the player and guide them back to their expected performance levels.
Off the pitch, agents can media train players to help with post-match interviews so that what they say and how they say it presents the club and themselves in the best light whilst ensuring they don’t cross broadcasting rules. ie things you can’t say on live TV. “
There will be some parents and players who may be reluctant to sign with an agent in case they sign a legally binding contract that doesn’t serve the interest of the player. What are the contract confusion points or pitfalls to watch out for?
Rule 1. Never pay any agent before you sign a contract with a club. There are fake agents.
Rule 2. Never sign an agreement without taking basic legal advice.
Basic contracts can be downloaded from the FA website. These are perfectly acceptable contracts and set out minimum conditions as a benchmark to work from, so don’t sign anything less than these terms.
Ideally an agent’s fees are usually paid for by the club, so there is no direct cost to the player but they would be subject to additional tax because the player is receiving a taxable benefit from the club paying the agents fees. So, if the agent’s fee is £100k, the player would be taxed on that amount in additional to the tax paid on the players salary.
Standard contracts permit the club to use the image rights of the player but they can be sold to the club via a license. This should not form part of the players salary but should be paid into a separate company account. Image rights can include videos, photos and images of the player, their hairstyle, voice and fashion choices etc… this is the only area of the commercial relationship where the player pays the agent directly.
What service do you offer Jude and how are you different to other agents?
My business is called the Disparate Sports Agency. We are a new specialist football agency based in London, Kent and Nottingham. We carefully select who we represent, providing them with the opportunity to fast track and develop their career
My approach is to entirely focus on the interest of the player, not just commercially but in the pastural sense too. Players come from all sorts of backgrounds and sometimes even just getting to the match can be challenging so if need be, I’ll take them to the game and equip them with the boots and pads etc.
I’ll watch them play and provide coaching advice to make them more successful on the pitch and I’ll help them build up a commercial revenue stream off the pitch through advertising and sponsorship deals.
This can start with basic boot sponsorship and progress through to suitable commercial opportunities that support the players brand and image. I also offer mental health support too. Having the right mental attitude in sport can be the difference between success and failure. I help players overcome mental barriers that stand in the way of achievement.
My approach to representing players is far more holistic than just contract negotiation, it’s about forming a long term-relationship and being their trusted advisor throughout their playing career.
How can people contact you Jude if they want to know more about your business services?
I’d encourage them to look at our website. It’s currently being transformed, so have a look later in the year too and people can email me at the address below.
https://www.disparatesportsagency.com/
email: info@disparatesportsagency.com
FA registered intermediary - IMS004759
Links for additional information
• Example contract
Premier League Contract See Page 281 from the Handbook
• Intermediaries contract
FA Example Intermediaries Representation Contract
• Fifapro an advisory website for professional players
https://www.fifpro.org/en/rights/fake-agents/how-to-deal-with-agents
Many parents will have little idea about the role and value of a player agent unless they work within the football industry themselves.
As parents we have the dilemma of either trusting the recommendation of the club but may perceive there could be a conflict of interest between the club, agent and player, or we go it alone and risk making a poor choice of selecting an unsuitable agent.
In 2020 the Football Association added three key regulations for “intermediaries”, in other words agents, who offer representation services to players and clubs.
• The first ensures that the player must be made aware of any offer made to them within 24 hours of the offer having been made.
• The second is agents cannot approach minors, ie before their 16th birthday or before the January in the year when their 16th birthday arises.
• The third key rule is agents must supply all the players they represent with what the FA calls an Annual Return for that year. Agents must detail all payments made to them by the club and any payments deducted from the players salary as part of the agent’s representation services for that player.
Rather than post our desk research on line we thought it would be far more informative if we spoke to a new generation of agent looking to shake up the industry, so we are delighted Jude Ajibewa, CEO of the Disparate Sports Agency, gave up his time to speak with AcademyFootball.Info.
“Hi Jude, it’s great to meet you and thank you for spending time to talk with us about signing with the right agent. I guess most people who read the press will probably have a character image in their mind of a big wheeler dealer who negotiates multi-million-pound deals like Jorge Mendes or the late Eric Hall.
What is the role of an agent and who do they really represent?
“Agents can perform two roles. The first is the representation of the player and the second is when an agent is called in by a club to help a player deal with an issue or to help them move on to another club if there is no longer a role for them at the current club.
Clubs endeavour to acquire players at the lowest optimal price and it’s the agent’s role to maximise the earnings of the player. The aim is to help reach a position where both club and player believe they have reached a good deal. A win-win as they say.”
At what point should parents and players consider using the services of agents?
“In clubs with category one and two academies, agents could well be engaged when the player turns 16. However, it usually starts when the player turns 18/19 years old or when they are offered a professional contract. Up until that point, there isn’t really a lot to discuss or negotiate.”
How do you go about finding an agent?
“You must do your research. Search online and look through an agent’s website. You want to check out who they look after and see if it’s an impressive portfolio of players and if the players they represent are like you or at your level and here you have to be realistic. Top agents focus on the very best players to maximise their earnings.
Check out client references and ensure the agent is registered with the Football Association (FA). All official agents are registered with the FA. Agents are not required to have any formal qualifications but increasingly they are degree qualified in sports management and some have a law degree and maybe are a practising lawyer. They pay a fee to the FA and register themselves and their services. Their details are listed on the FA website.
The real value of an agent comes down to how well they are connected in the sport and how well they are commercially connected. You should also consider recommendations from other players you know and trust and the club. The club get to deal with numerous agents and know who is effective and easy to do business with. Agents should have good people and communication skills both written and verbal, after all, this is a people business.”
Could you tell us about the scope of work agents are involved in?
“Sure, most people will know agents for handling transfer negotiations and helping young players join clubs on a professional basis but they also look after other commercial arrangements too.
This can be buying boots for a player, obtaining sponsorship contracts and maximising the players earning potential, both on and off the pitch, through advertising and endorsements, hence why the agent’s network and commercial experience is so important.
They can be called in to manage disputes with the club and deal with issues like racism if the player believes the club isn’t dealing with the issue effectively. Agents can help players deal with other issues like confidence and mental health issues and intervene if the player isn’t getting enough time on the pitch.
If they can’t help directly, they can bring in qualified people to help players through difficult times, set a recovery road map that’s right for the player and guide them back to their expected performance levels.
Off the pitch, agents can media train players to help with post-match interviews so that what they say and how they say it presents the club and themselves in the best light whilst ensuring they don’t cross broadcasting rules. ie things you can’t say on live TV. “
There will be some parents and players who may be reluctant to sign with an agent in case they sign a legally binding contract that doesn’t serve the interest of the player. What are the contract confusion points or pitfalls to watch out for?
Rule 1. Never pay any agent before you sign a contract with a club. There are fake agents.
Rule 2. Never sign an agreement without taking basic legal advice.
Basic contracts can be downloaded from the FA website. These are perfectly acceptable contracts and set out minimum conditions as a benchmark to work from, so don’t sign anything less than these terms.
Ideally an agent’s fees are usually paid for by the club, so there is no direct cost to the player but they would be subject to additional tax because the player is receiving a taxable benefit from the club paying the agents fees. So, if the agent’s fee is £100k, the player would be taxed on that amount in additional to the tax paid on the players salary.
Standard contracts permit the club to use the image rights of the player but they can be sold to the club via a license. This should not form part of the players salary but should be paid into a separate company account. Image rights can include videos, photos and images of the player, their hairstyle, voice and fashion choices etc… this is the only area of the commercial relationship where the player pays the agent directly.
What service do you offer Jude and how are you different to other agents?
My business is called the Disparate Sports Agency. We are a new specialist football agency based in London, Kent and Nottingham. We carefully select who we represent, providing them with the opportunity to fast track and develop their career
My approach is to entirely focus on the interest of the player, not just commercially but in the pastural sense too. Players come from all sorts of backgrounds and sometimes even just getting to the match can be challenging so if need be, I’ll take them to the game and equip them with the boots and pads etc.
I’ll watch them play and provide coaching advice to make them more successful on the pitch and I’ll help them build up a commercial revenue stream off the pitch through advertising and sponsorship deals.
This can start with basic boot sponsorship and progress through to suitable commercial opportunities that support the players brand and image. I also offer mental health support too. Having the right mental attitude in sport can be the difference between success and failure. I help players overcome mental barriers that stand in the way of achievement.
My approach to representing players is far more holistic than just contract negotiation, it’s about forming a long term-relationship and being their trusted advisor throughout their playing career.
How can people contact you Jude if they want to know more about your business services?
I’d encourage them to look at our website. It’s currently being transformed, so have a look later in the year too and people can email me at the address below.
Jude Ajibewa is a young football agent who always puts his clients first. He specialises in the development of young athletes and some say is an opportunist. His vision consists of nurturing and guiding these players to the best of their ability, on and off the pitch, and hopes to see this one day play out in the Premier League. Please contact Jude via email to discuss how you can collaborate or discuss your options.
https://www.disparatesportsagency.com/
email: info@disparatesportsagency.com
FA registered intermediary - IMS004759
Links for additional information
• Example contract
Premier League Contract See Page 281 from the Handbook
• Intermediaries contract
FA Example Intermediaries Representation Contract
• Fifapro an advisory website for professional players
https://www.fifpro.org/en/rights/fake-agents/how-to-deal-with-agents
Academy Football Info News
Navigating Life After Release from Youth Academy Football
The Latest News on Jamie Howell
More to academies than just retain or release jeopardy
