One of the most common and frustrating challenges in football agency is when a player’s family, usually the father, asks for money in exchange for signing with an agent.
“How much will you pay me to sign my son?”
This is a question that agents hear far too often. Instead of choosing an agent based on their experience, network, or ability to guide the player’s career, some parents approach representation as a business transaction. The highest bidder wins the right to represent their child, for now.
This practice is not only ethically questionable but also financially unsustainable and, in many cases, legally problematic. It is a system that puts money before career development, often harming the player in the long run.
The Reality of Short-Term Relationships
When an agent agrees to pay a family to sign a player, they are entering into a fragile and transactional relationship. These agreements rarely last beyond two years. There is no guarantee that the player will remain with the agent after that period, especially if another agent comes along offering more money.
Under FIFA regulations, agents cannot sign a player for more than two years. Even if the relationship starts well, the player is not bound beyond that period, making any financial investment by the agent highly risky.
In some countries, such as Germany and Austria, the situation is even more precarious. Exclusive representation contracts are not legally enforceable, meaning that a player can leave and sign with another agent at any time, regardless of any prior agreement. This makes it even more questionable for agents to pay families to secure representation. With no legal protection in place, agents who pay parents essentially take an enormous financial gamble with no guarantees.
For independent agents or those without deep financial backing, this creates an impossible situation. Competing with big agencies on financial incentives alone is a losing battle. Worse still, it reduces the role of an agent to that of a financial provider rather than a career mentor.
If a family chooses an agent based on payment rather than trust and expertise, they will leave the moment another agent offers them more.
The Legal and Ethical Dilemma
Beyond the financial risks, these payments often fall into legal grey areas.
- In many countries, individuals cannot receive gifts above a certain threshold, often around $10,000, without declaring it to tax authorities.
- Many of these transactions occur in cash, which is rarely declared and can constitute tax evasion.
- Payments made to influence decisions in business transactions can, in some jurisdictions, be classified as bribery.
For agents, engaging in such practices comes with significant risks. Not only does it set a dangerous precedent, but it can also lead to legal trouble if authorities scrutinize the financial dealings involved.
What Should an Agent Do?
For agents, especially those who are new to the industry, it can be tempting to give in when faced with these demands. But the best course of action is clear.
Do not pay parents money to sign their child.
Here’s why.
- It creates a transactional relationship, not a partnership. Parents who demand money are not looking for the best agent for their child. They are looking for the highest bidder. And when someone else offers more, they will switch.
- It damages the integrity of the industry. Agents should be chosen for their ability to guide careers, not for how much they can pay up front. Accepting this practice only fuels a toxic cycle in football.
- It is legally risky. If undeclared payments come to light, both the agent and the family could face serious legal consequences.
- It undermines the player’s best interests. A player’s career should be built on trust, planning, and the right guidance. When money is the primary factor in choosing an agent, the long-term career development of the player is rarely the priority.
Final Thoughts
An agent’s role is to develop careers, build trust, and provide the best opportunities for their players. The moment money becomes the deciding factor in representation, the foundation of that relationship is broken.
A simple rule applies.
Who comes for money will leave for money.
Parents who demand money to sign their child are thinking about their own financial gain, not their child’s future. If they choose an agent based on payment, they are not the type of people an agent should want to work with.
Football is full of talented players and good families who genuinely care about making the right decisions for their children. Those are the ones agents should focus on.
There is no need to compete in an unethical marketplace where representation is sold to the highest bidder. Stay true to your principles, and you will build lasting relationships with the right people.