The agent market in Europe in 2025: where do things stand?
An overview of recent developments in the European football agent market, between regulation, digitalisation, and new entrants.
The return of FIFA licensing
FIFA's decision to reintroduce agent licensing in 2023 was a seismic shift. After a decade of deregulation, the industry moved back to a framework requiring exams, licences, and rules. In theory, this should clean up the market. In practice, the effects are still modest. The number of licensed agents has decreased, but unlicensed intermediaries have not disappeared. They have adapted.
Commissions under pressure
FIFA also capped commissions. Maximum 10% for the player's agent, 6% for the club's agent. This triggered an uproar. Some agents are already circumventing these limits through consulting structures, advisory fees, and cross-mandates. The rule exists. Enforcement is another matter. Clubs accommodate it because everyone knows the real negotiation often exceeds the official framework.
Digitalisation is still nascent
Platforms dedicated to transfers are emerging: TransferRoom, FOOTPASS, and others. Each with a different angle. TransferRoom focuses on matchmaking. FOOTPASS focuses on verification and secure communication. The market is still young and most professionals still rely on email and WhatsApp. But the direction is clear: within five years, a significant share of exchanges will happen on dedicated platforms.
New players entering the field
What is fascinating is the arrival of actors from tech and finance. Investment funds positioning themselves in the agent market, startups offering contract analysis tools, career management platforms for players. The landscape is becoming more complex, and traditional agents must adapt or risk being sidelined.
Challenges ahead
The main challenge remains uniform rule enforcement. FIFA legislates, but national federations implement. Between the French federation and the Brazilian federation, interpretations vary enormously. The second challenge is trust. The system will only work if all actors play by the rules. For now, we are far from that.
Our take
At FOOTPASS, we believe regulation alone will not suffice. You need tools that make compliance easy, fast, and integrated into the daily workflow. If verifying an agent takes thirty seconds instead of three days, clubs will do it systematically. That is the bet we are making.
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