Epic Sports Agency (by Ali Barat)
Elite Football Dealmakers
Portugal/Italy €265mm
Key Facts
Also known as: Epic Sports Football; EPIC SPORTS ITALY; Epic Sport Agency
Founded: circa 2022–2023 (active publicly since 2023)
Headquarters: Funchal, Madeira, Portugal • Branch: Italy (EPIC SPORTS ITALY)
Players: 12+ (publicly listed across Epic entities) • Total market value ≈ €265mm
FIFA/FA registration: FIFA-licensed agents on staff; FA Registered Football Agent — Ali Barat (FARA0822; authorised to represent minors until 23 Feb 2026)
Languages: English; Portuguese; Italian; Dutch; Spanish
Regions covered: Europe (UK, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands); South America (Ecuador)
Email: sales@epicsports.football
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/epicsports
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/epicsportsfootball
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About
Epic Sports is a boutique, elite-level football agency led by award-winning agent Ali Barat. The group focuses on top-flight player representation and high-value transfers, blending hands-on negotiation with in-house analysis and a growing Italy arm (EPIC SPORTS ITALY). The agency has been prominent in Premier League and Serie A moves and works with emerging South American talents transitioning to Europe.
He won the Golden Boy “Best Agent” award in 2023, cementing his status as a leading figure in the transfer market. Barat has overseen major deals such as Moisés Caicedo’s move to Chelsea and Nicolas Jackson’s switch to Bayern Munich. Known for bold public statements, he celebrated Jackson’s transfer as a “world-record loan” and has also been involved in moves for Dean Huijsen, Piero Hincapié, Xavi Simons, and Noni Madueke.
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Key People
CEO/Founder: Ali Barat (FA reg. FARA0822)
Managing Director / Head of Football: Shajan de Wagt (Executive Director)
Licensed agents: Andrea Pellegatti; Gaetano Rossa; Edoardo Jarach; Francesco Facchinetti; Salvatore Calaminici; Nicola Maffessoli; Alessandro Balbiano
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Client Roster
Top players (current): Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea); Nicolas Jackson (Bayern - on loan from Chelsea); Noni Madueke (Arsenal), Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool), Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur); Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa); Cesare Casadei (Torino)
Rising talents / U23: Kendry Páez (RC Strasbourg, on loan from Chelsea); Matteo Venturini (Inter U23)
Notable former clients: Not publicly disclosed.
Coaches/Staff represented (if any): Not publicly disclosed.
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Notable Deals
2023 — Moisés Caicedo: Brighton → Chelsea, permanent; £115m; contract to 2031 (+ option).
2023 — Nicolas Jackson: Villarreal → Chelsea, permanent; approx €37m/£32m; eight-year deal.
2025 — Nicolas Jackson: Chelsea → Bayern Munich; season‑long loan; loan fee ~€16.5 million with mandatory purchase clause; total deal cost up to ~€81.5 million
2023→2025 — Kendry Páez: Independiente del Valle → Chelsea agreed (2023); 2025–26 loan to RC Strasbourg.
2025 — Xavi Simons: RB Leipzig → Tottenham Hotspur, long-term deal; Barat involved.
2025 — Noni Madueke: Chelsea → Arsenal; permanent; £48.5 million initial, rising to £52 million with add-ons; five‑year contract.
2025 — Hugo Ekitike: Eintracht Frankfurt → Liverpool; permanent; €80 million plus €15 million in add-ons (total up to €95 million); six‑year contract (to 2031).
Noni Madueke → Arsenal
Ali Barat and Epic Sports played a central role in Noni Madueke's move from Chelsea to Arsenal in summer 2025. The transfer, confirmed on 18 July 2025, was worth an initial £48.5 million, rising to £52 million with add-ons. Barat brokered the deal, ensuring the winger signed a five-year contract with Arsenal.
Hugo Ekitike → Liverpool
Ali Barat also facilitated Hugo Ekitike’s move from Eintracht Frankfurt to Liverpool in July 2025. The deal includes an €80 million initial fee plus €15 million in potential add-ons, totaling up to €95 million. Ekitike signed a six-year contract, running until Summer 2031.
Nicolas Jackson → Bayern Munich
Ali Barat orchestrated Nicolas Jackson’s deadline-day switch from Chelsea to Bayern Munich in September 2025. The agreement was initially structured as a season-long loan with an option to buy, valued at around €65 million, on top of a loan fee of approximately €15 million.
The situation quickly became messy, with Chelsea reportedly trying to recall Jackson and cancel the arrangement amid disagreements over the option-to-buy clause and the club’s striker depth. Despite the dispute, Barat safeguarded his client’s move, ensuring Jackson joined Bayern with the possibility of a long-term stay in the Bundesliga. At the end, both parties agreed on a season‑long loan; loan fee ~€16.5 million with mandatory purchase clause; total deal cost up to ~€81.5 million.
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Services
Contract negotiation; transfers/loans; image rights; sponsorships; PR/branding; legal/tax; relocation; performance/video analytics & scouting; wellbeing/injury management; post-career planning.
Partner Network
Clubs and pathways across Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga and Ligue 1; European scouts; Italian legal/tax counsel; performance analysts and physios; brand/marketing partners.
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Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed: 6+ (publicly reported)
Deals ≥ €10m: 3+
Clients in top-5 leagues: 5+
National team clients: Ecuador; Senegal; Netherlands; UK
Renewal/extension deals: Not publicly disclosed.
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Approach & Philosophy
Epic Sports operates a high-touch, elite-only model: a compact client list, aggressive market intelligence and swift decision-making around premium opportunities. The Italy unit supports data-led scouting and video analysis to accelerate development and readiness for top-five leagues, while negotiations emphasise long-term contract value and resale optionality.
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Fees & Transparency
Not publicly disclosed. Commission structures vary by jurisdiction and deal type; agents must be licensed. Clients receive clear, written terms in line with FA/FIFA frameworks.
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Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions: None publicly recorded.
Litigation / disputes: None notable in public domain.
Media sentiment: Positive to neutral — widely profiled as a rising “super-agent”.
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Awards/recognition
Golden Boy “Best Agent” (2023) — Ali Barat.
