Inside the Broken System That’s Failing Thousands of Players
Introduction: The Agent Mirage
In theory, football agents are supposed to be the architects of careers—guiding talent, negotiating contracts, and building a player’s brand from the grassroots to global fame. In reality? And here come the big question: Why Is It So Hard to Find a Good Football Agent?
The modern football agent industry is a Wild West of false promises, WhatsApp hustlers, and short-term thinking.
From Neymar’s $222M transfer drama to teenagers in Africa being scammed into fake “trials,” the world of football agents is not just chaotic—it’s dangerously under-regulated.
1. A Flooded Market: Too Many Agents, Too Little Value
According to FIFA, as of 2023, over 10,383 agents were registered globally. But here’s the twist:
Only 3% of those agents actually earn a living from the job.
That’s right—thousands of self-proclaimed agents are floating around with zero players, no contacts, and little understanding of the business. Most “agents” you’ll meet on social media are either inexperienced middlemen or opportunists looking for one big payday.
🔥 Smartass note: If every agent who promised to “take you to Real Madrid” actually could, La Liga would need 10 divisions.
2. The Race for Commissions, Not Careers
In today’s fast-paced market, agents are more focused on getting deals done than doing what’s right for the player. The business model is built around:
- Transfer % commission
- Image rights deals
- Short-term incentives
That’s why many agents push players to accept offers that:
- Aren’t the best fit tactically
- Are in unstable leagues or countries
- Offer a higher commission for the agent but worse conditions for the player
⚠️ Real story:
In 2020, a promising Senegalese striker was lured to Eastern Europe with promises of a top-flight contract. The “agent” disappeared after arrival. The player was left in a freezing city, unpaid, undocumented, and sleeping in a shared apartment with 5 others. No support, no way home.
3. When “Super Agents” Create Super Problems
The rise of “super agents” like Jorge Mendes and (the late) Mino Raiola reshaped modern football. But their dominance exposed another problem:
The market is top-heavy, with 80% of deals controlled by less than 10% of agents.
That means thousands of players—especially in semi-pro and developing markets—are left to deal with amateurs. Meanwhile, super agents often juggle 30–50 clients at once. So unless you’re Mbappé or Pogba, you’re not the priority.
📉 Stat check: In 2022, 2,572 players were left without a club in Europe despite being under agent representation.
4. The Club Perspective: Agents Are Losing Influence
With the explosion of data analytics, clubs now scout players using:
- Wyscout
- InStat
- TransferRoom
- AI-backed scouting algorithms
Clubs prefer data over hype, and many now negotiate directly with players or their families—cutting agents out of the loop entirely unless they provide value beyond the obvious.
5. Fake Trials and Scams: The Dark Side of Dreams
Some of the most alarming stories in football involve fake agents offering:
- Paid trials in Europe (that don’t exist)
- Fake contracts
- Forged documents
In 2023, a notorious scam ring was uncovered in Nigeria and Ghana. Dozens of families paid between $2,000–$10,000 for “trials” in Turkey and Spain. Upon arrival—no trials, no agent, no refund.
📰 Case in point: In 2018, 21-year-old Cameroonian player Joseph Bouasse arrived in Italy under false pretenses. He was abandoned at a train station. By a twist of fate, AS Roma gave him a shot. He later died of a heart attack at 21, but his story highlights the brutality behind the dream.
6. Find a Good Football Agent (And Why They’re So Rare)
✅ Real agents don’t just chase transfers—they build a career. They:
- Plan 3-5 years ahead
- Understand football systems
- Negotiate not just money, but stability
- Build a support ecosystem (mental coach, physio, social media team)
- Know when not to move
But here’s the rub:
That kind of agent only works with about 5% of players—and most of them already have a stable portfolio.
7. How to Spot a Bad Agent in 10 Seconds
- “I’ll take you to trial” (Red flag: real deals don’t start with trials)
- No office, no company, no paperwork
- Asking for money upfront
- Can’t name any players they’ve worked with
- Sends you videos of “deals” on WhatsApp
- Doesn’t know league rules or visa requirements
- No follow-up after first message
- Talks only about money, not tactics or fit
- Shows off more than listens
- Refuses to let you bring a parent, lawyer, or coach to a meeting
8. The FIFA Licensing Reform: Too Little, Too Late?
FIFA reintroduced mandatory agent exams and licenses in 2023. It’s a start. But enforcement is still poor in many regions. Agents keep operating under the radar—and many players don’t know how to verify who’s legit.
👉 You can now check licensed agents here: FIFA Agent Platform
Conclusion: Find a Good Football Agent Like You Choose Your Club
In a world where footballers are brands, and careers can be destroyed by a bad decision at 17, choosing the right agent is more important than ever.
A good agent isn’t the one who promises you a club—
It’s the one who says:
“You’re not ready yet. Let’s build you up first.”
Let’s sum it up! Before signing with anyone, check these essential boxes:
✅ Direct access to decision-makers at clubs, not just middlemen. It may sound obvious, but the best agents are the ones who can get to the people who make decisions at clubs. Instead of relying on other agents or middlemen to get them an “in”, they can go direct to the directors of football – the clue is in the name! – and other club staff who will determine whether deals get done.
✅ International network to open doors across leagues and continents. There have never been more openings for players who are prepared to move to different leagues, countries and even continents. But if your agent doesn’t have international reach, you could miss out. Instead of being restricted to one market and set of clubs, you need someone who can find and pursue a variety of opportunities that gives you real options in your career. Clubs now think globally – so should your agent
✅ Experience with players like you, at your level and career stage. An agent with a global network gives you a real headstart when it comes to finding opportunities. But it’s not everything. If an agent has not worked with players at a similar stage of their career or at a similar level, they may struggle to understand your needs and aspirations. You need someone who can not only do deals, but who can recommend the right steps to reach your career ambitions.
✅ Clear, honest communication that keeps you fully informed. The basis of any business relationship is trust. And trust relies on effective, honest communication. One of the most common complaints from players is being kept in the dark about what is going on and that’s the gap which gets filled by rumour and misinformation. You need someone who is going to keep you in the loop and tell you the truth, so you can work together towards the best outcomes.
✅ Strong reputation among other players who’ve worked with them. How do different agents rate on numbers 1 to 4? There are now ways to access information that indicates how they measure up to expectations. But sometimes it is best to get the truth from the horse’s mouth. Your fellow players can give you their personal experience of how agents perform in practice, rather than in theory, and so give a real-life verdict on their abilities.
✅ Up-to-date knowledge of football regulations and licensing rules. The football industry is changing fast, with new regulations affecting every area of the game. From new agent licensing rules to alterations to visa requirements in different markets, there is a lot to tackle. If an agent is not on top of the latest developments, they risk missing opportunities or wasting time on deals that have little or no chance of happening. But someone who understands the rules properly gives themselves and their clients a head start.
✅ Proactive mindset, always searching for your next opportunity. The world is connected as never before. The ability to stay up to date with the latest information, and then act on it, is crucial to success in every business. Instead of waiting for things to happen, the best agents make them happen. And they do that by keeping in tune with the market, knowing when openings have appeared, and then making their move.
✅ The right number of clients, so your career doesn’t get lost in the crowd.
✅ Proven track record of successful transfers and deals. Football is a results business. If an agent got things done for others, the chances are they could get things done for you. When it comes down to it, an agent’s job is to do the right deals at the right time. It’s not a guarantee, but if you can access the right information, you can assess someone’s past performance and how likely it is that they will deliver for you as well.
✅ Personal connection—someone who understands your goals, values, and character. Football is big business, with a lot of money and status at stake, but there is still room for camaraderie and friendship. If your agent understands you as a person, as well as a player, then they are better equipped to work on your behalf and to find opportunities that are right for you. How much distance you want to maintain is a personal choice, but off the pitch as well as on it, teams with strong personal bonds tend to thrive.
No football agent is perfect, but when you know what matters most to you, you’ll be better equipped to spot someone who fits. Trust, results, and alignment—those are the keys.
The good news? You no longer have to rely on luck or hearsay. Today’s players have tools to make smarter, more informed choices. Use them—and take control of your future.
