Soccer intermediaries earn $ 500.8 million in 2021, even though transfer spending dropped

The clubs kept the spending on commissions to intermediaries in 2021, with a total of $ 500.8 million, despite the fact that spending on transfers fell for the second year in a row, according to a report published by the FIFA, which reflects a greater intervention of these in the transfers of Women’s Football 12.9%.

In the document “Intermediaries in Transfers in 2021″ It is clear that although the global spending of the clubs in terms of transfers was again lower this year -with decreases of 13.9% in 2021 and 23.4% in 2020-, this decrease did not imply a reduction of disbursement in commissions to intermediaries, which even registered a slight rise of 0.7% compared to 2020.

FIFA, which is carrying out a comprehensive reform of the transfer system and draws up a new Regulation on Soccer Agents that will enter into force in 2022, provided this data today, which shows that European clubs are the ones that made the largest disbursement of the total spending on intermediaries with 95.8% of it.

3,545 transfers had intermediaries

The FIFA Transfer Correlation System (TMS) recorded in 2021 a total of 17,945 player transfers professionals and of this total 3.545 (19.8%) had the intervention of at least one intermediary.

European clubs registered 95.8% of the $ 500.8 million spent on commissions to intermediaries, with those of England in first place (133.3 million dollars), followed by Germany (84.3 million) and Italy (73.5 million).

The Spaniards were in fourth position (34.8 million dollars), the french in fifth (30.3 million) and Portugal (29.3 million dollars) in sixth.

The expense of the intermediation services of the clubs in Conmebol was 12.2 million dollars, with Brazil in first place with 11.9; in the Asian Confederation, $ 7.4 million; in Concacaf, 0.9 million dollars; and in the African Confederation, $ 0.4 million.

Transfers of minors under 18 years of age

The figure of the intermediary intervened in 16.3% of the transfers of players under 18 years of age in 2021.

This percentage increased slightly in the 18 to 23 age group (16.4%); decreased for players between the ages of 24 and 35 (13.8% -11.9%) and notably dropped up to 7.1% for players over 35 years old

The total amount for intermediaries representing the contracting club increased by 11.6% compared to 2020 and that directed to intermediaries of the transferor club decreased by 20.3%.

This evolution does not correspond to that of clubs’ spending on transfer fees, which decreased for the second consecutive year (-13.9% in 2021 and -23.4% in 2020).

In 2021 there were 2,615 international transfers in which the player was represented by one or more intermediaries, which represents 14.6% of all transactions of this type and in more than half of the transfers in which an intermediary acted, the only party represented was the player (53.8%)

In more than 90% of the cases, the club’s intermediaries received less than $ 1 million per transaction, and the most common payment amount is $ 10,000 to $ 100,000.

The 117 cases in which service fees exceeded $ 1 million represent around two-thirds (64.2%) of the total amount paid by clubs to intermediaries.

The FIFA recorded isolated cases in which service fees even exceed $ 10 million.

Another report prepared this year by FIFA showed that in the last decade 3.5 billion dollars have been paid in concept of intermediary services in international transfers.

Transfers in women’s football

In 2021 they were completed 1,287 international transfers of professional players and in 300 of them (23.3%) at least one intermediary acted.

The number of transfers in women’s football in which the destination club engaged the services of an intermediary registered an increase of 12.9% in 2021 (with a total of 70 cases) compared to the figure for 2020 (62). In 2019 the number was 54 and in 2018, 24.

England (with 16) and Germany (with 14) they were the most active FIFA member associations in this regard.

The clubs paid a total of $ 451,000 in brokerage service fees. These were paid in 66 of the 70 transfers through the club’s intermediaries and never exceeded $ 40,000. (D)