Epic Sports Agency (by Ali Barat)
Elite Football Dealmakers
UAE €300mm+
Key Facts
Also known as: Epic Sports Football; EPIC SPORTS ITALY; Epic Sport Agency
Founded: circa 2022–2023 (active publicly since 2023)
Headquarters: Abu Dhabi, UAE • Branch: Italy (EPIC SPORTS ITALY)
Players: 15+ (publicly listed across Epic entities) • Total market value ≈ €300mm+
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.
Barat won the Golden Boy “Best Agent” award in 2023 and 2025, cementing his status as a leading figure in the transfer market.
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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):
Nicolas Jackson (Bayern - on loan from Chelsea)
Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
Hugo Ekitike (Liverpool)
Xavi Simons (Tottenham Hotspur)
Ian Maatsen (Aston Villa)
Cesare Casadei (Torino)
Archie Brown (Fenerbahce)
Justin Kluivert (AFC Bournemouth) - joined the agency in October 2025
Piero Hincapié (Arsenal)
Ruben Kluivert (Olympique Lyon) - joined the agency in October 2025
Rising talents / U23: Kendry Páez (RC Strasbourg, on loan from Chelsea); Matteo Venturini (Inter U23)
Notable former clients: Moisés Caicedo (Chelsea).
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
