Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis Questions Agent Fees

Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis has raised his fears over the amount of influence agents have in football transfer deals and the amount of money they earn through them.

A report from the European Club’s Association (ECA) said that 14.6% of money exchanged in transfer dealings end up with agents.

Gazidis said: “Clearly there is a lot of money going to agents in these transfer transactions but I don’t think we the clubs can abrogate responsibility — we are part of the problem as we are the ones agreeing to pay these amounts of money.

“There are unusual pressures in the system which lead to agents having significant leverage. Players should be making more money and that money not going to agents.

“If I were a player or players’ union that would be a really substantial concern to me because it means my clients as a union and me as a player are losing money.

“More invidious are conflicts of interest that often exist in these transactions with agents, and that’s something that clubs and players should be concerned about.”

Arsenal have come under scrutiny in recent years for selling their best players to rivals and failing to make significant transfer additions, before the £42m capture of Mesut Ozil.

The ECA study also highlighted that many cubs in Africa and South America are missing out on the required 5% compensation for training player between the ages of 12 and 23 because they do not know about the rule.

It reports that almost $200m is outstanding on such deals.