GROW Talents
Rising Talent Specialists

UK

€23mm

Key Facts

Also known as: GROW Talents Sports Agency, GROW
Founded: Early 2020s (exact year not publicly disclosed)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Players: 50+ (1st tier: 21) – Total market value: approx. €23mm
FIFA/FA registration: Multiple FIFA-licensed intermediaries operating via Austrian, German, Belgian, Turkish and American FAs
Languages: English, German, Spanish, Turkish, Dutch, Serbian
Regions covered: Europe - Austria, Germany, Belgium, Scotland, Belgium, USA, North America, Asia
Email: info@grow-talents.com
Phone: +447788437939
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grow.talents/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/growtalents

About

GROW is a London-based boutique football agency positioning itself as “The Home of World’s Rising Talents” and a 360° sports management company. It focuses primarily on young players in Austria, Germany, Scandinavia, Benelux and MLS, helping them transition from academies to first-team football and then into stronger leagues.

With staff and clients spread across three continents and eight countries, GROW specialises in cross-border moves, especially between the Austrian Bundesliga, German 2. Bundesliga, MLS and emerging markets like Portugal’s Primeira Liga. A strong emphasis is placed on holistic support – including mental coaching, education and post-football planning – via Executive Director and long-time agent Thomas Freismuth and founder Dr Erkut Sogut.

Key People

• CEO / Executive Director:

  • Thomas Freismuth – Austrian football agent and mental performance coach based in London, with previous experience at Red Bull Salzburg, Chelsea-related projects and other analytics-driven roles before building GROW’s client base across Austria and MLS.
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomasfreismuth
    Website: https://www.thomasfreismuth.com/

• Founder:

  • Dr Erkut Sogut – Sports lawyer and agent, best known for representing Mesut Özil and as founder of The Football Week, Pitchside and Sports Agent Academy; publicly listed as founder of GROW Talents Sports Agency.\
    LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-erkut-sogut

• Managing Director / Head of Football:

  • The executive football and operations lead role is effectively shared between Thomas Freismuth (European markets) and regional heads such as Paolo Cucalón (Americas) and Niels De Schutter (Benelux), coordinating scouting and transfers across three continents.

• Licensed agents / key intermediaries (selection):

  • Thomas Freismuth – FIFA-licensed intermediary (Europe, MLS focus)

  • Paolo Cucalón – FIFA Agent for the Americas (CONMEBOL, CONCACAF)

  • Niels De Schutter – Benelux and Belgium-focused intermediary

  • Christian Sand – Central Europe and Nordic markets

  • Luis Kircher – Germany and Austria

  • Ljubiša Palić – Switzerland / Balkan corridor

  • Mehmet Burak Baran – Türkiye and wider Süper Lig markets

  • Matthieu Struyf – Scouting and Benelux support

Client Roster

Top players and talents (current)

• Leon Grgic (Sturm Graz) – 22/01/2006

• Luka Hyryläinen (1. FC Magdeburg) – 25/08/2004

• Indiana Vassilev (Philadelphia Union) – 16/02/2001

• Casper Terho (OH Leuven) – 24/06/2003

• Sascha Horvath (LASK) – 22/08/1996

• Amadou Dante (Arouca) – 07/10/2000

• Manfred Fischer (Austria Wien) – 06/08/1995

• Paul Komposch (TSV Hartberg) – 13/05/2001

• Fabio Ferraro (FCV Dender) – 03/09/2002

• Florian Flecker (LASK) – 29/10/1995

• Manuel Pfeifer (TSV 1860 München) – 10/09/1999

• Jannik Schuster (Red Bull Salzburg) – 16/05/2006

• Jannik Robatsch (FC St. Pauli) – 28/12/2004

• Ian Fray (Inter Miami) – 31/08/2002

• Moritz Wels (WSG Tirol, on loan from Austria Wien) – 25/09/2004

• Konstantin Schopp (Mainz 05) – 30/12/2005

• Pascal Fallmann (Erzgebirge Aue) – 07/11/2003

• Lukas Fadinger (Motherwell) – 27/09/2000

• Dominik Martinovic (SSV Ulm) – 25/03/1997

• Romeo Vucic (Austria Wien) – 30/01/2003

• Eaden Roka (Rapid Wien II) – 03/09/2007

• Maximilian Fillafer (TSV Hartberg) – 26/12/2004

• Johannes Moser (FC Liefering) – 16/01/2008

Notable former clients

• No major high-profile former clients are prominently documented in public sources; the agency’s public footprint is heavily focused on a growing, long-term core of current players rather than historic alumni.

Coaches / Staff represented

• Christian Ilzer – Head coach, Sturm Graz

• Christian Peintinger – Assistant / coach in Austrian Bundesliga set-ups

• Philipp Semlic – Coach (Austrian league)

• Alexander Johannsen – Scout / performance staff in German-speaking markets

Notable Deals

• 2025 – Lukas Fadinger to Motherwell

  • From: Rheindorf Altach to Motherwell (Scottish Premiership)

  • Transfer: Free transfer, two-year contract to 2027, strengthening Motherwell’s midfield with proven Austrian Bundesliga experience.

• 2025 – Konstantin Schopp to Mainz 05

  • From: Sturm Graz to 1. FSV Mainz 05 (Bundesliga)

  • Transfer: Reported free move with a contract running until 2029, taking one of Austria’s most highly rated U21 centre-backs into a top-5 league environment.

• 2025 – Dominik Martinovic to SSV Ulm

  • From: Rot-Weiss Essen to SSV Ulm (3. Liga, after their relegation from 2. Bundesliga)

  • Transfer: Undisclosed fee, contract to 2027, signed as an immediate impact striker to help Ulm bounce back.

• 2025 – Indiana Vassilev to Philadelphia Union

  • From: St. Louis City SC to Philadelphia Union (MLS)

  • Transfer: Trade deal reportedly involving up to $1.25m in General Allocation Money, with Vassilev signing a multi-year contract and later contributing to Union’s Supporters’ Shield win.

• 2025 – Jannik Robatsch to FC St. Pauli

  • From: Austria Klagenfurt to FC St. Pauli (Bundesliga)

  • Transfer: Undisclosed fee; long-term contract (reported to 2028) for one of Austria’s most promising U21 centre-backs.

• 2025 – Manuel Pfeifer to TSV 1860 München

  • From: TSV Hartberg to TSV 1860 München (3. Liga, Germany)

  • Transfer: Free or low-cost move, with a contract running to 2027, giving 1860 an experienced yet developing left-back.

• 2025 – Amadou Dante permanent to Arouca

  • From: Sturm Graz to Arouca (Primeira Liga), following a successful loan spell with FC Zürich and then Arouca

  • Transfer: Undisclosed fee; Arouca exercised option to buy to secure a Mali international left-back on a long-term basis.

Services

GROW positions itself as a full-service 360° management agency for players in the 16–26 age bracket. Key services include:

• Contract and salary negotiation for club deals (signings, renewals, performance-based structures).

• Domestic and international transfers and loans, with a strong track record between Austria, Germany, Benelux, MLS and Portugal.

• Career management and strategic club planning, including step-by-step pathways from academy to senior football.

• Image management and personal branding (social media support, interviews, media positioning) via the broader Sogut network and The Football Week platforms.

• Mental performance and wellbeing coaching integrated into representation, led by Freismuth’s background in psychology and mentoring.

• Support around relocation, schooling, accommodation and daily life logistics when players move country.

• Advisory on sponsorship, endorsements and content/education projects (especially for North American and Latin American clients).

Partner Network

Based on deal history and public information, GROW works frequently with:

• Austrian clubs – Sturm Graz, LASK, TSV Hartberg, Austria Wien, Rapid Wien, WSG Tirol.

• German clubs – 1. FC Magdeburg, TSV 1860 München, FC St. Pauli, Mainz 05.

• MLS clubs – Inter Miami, St. Louis City, Philadelphia Union.

• Portuguese and Belgian clubs – Arouca and OH Leuven.

• Networks of scouts, analysts and data-driven consultants active in Austria, Germany, Benelux and the Americas.

Track Record (last 3 seasons)

• Total transfers completed: 30+

• Deals ≥ €10m: 0

• Clients in top-5 leagues: 2–3

• National team clients: 10+ (senior and youth caps across USA, Finland, Mali, Austria, Jamaica and others)

• Renewal / extension deals: 10+ (long-term extensions and first pro contracts, typically 3–4-year terms)

Approach & Philosophy

GROW is built around a “rising talents first” philosophy: identify high-potential players early, build a personalised development plan and move them only when the next step clearly accelerates their growth rather than maximising short-term fees. The agency leans heavily on video and data-driven scouting combined with close relationships in Austrian and German academies and clubs, giving it early visibility on prospects in Central Europe and enabling smart moves into leagues like MLS, Primeira Liga or Belgium where minutes are more accessible.

Fees & Transparency

GROW does not publicly disclose a detailed fee schedule. Based on industry norms for similar European boutique agencies, players can expect:

• Player contract commission: typically around 5–10 % of the player’s gross salary.

• Sponsorship and commercial deals: often in the 10–20 % range of endorsement income, depending on structure and extra services.

• Dual representation: no explicit public policy; the agency appears to prioritise player-side representation and uses club-side fees only where regulations allow and conflicts are manageable.

• Expenses: standard practice is pre-agreed chargeable expenses (travel, scouting, legal) with prior approval, defined in each representation agreement.

Compliance & Reputation

• Disciplinary actions / sanctions:

  • No public FIFA or national FA sanctions against GROW or its leading agents found up to December 2025.

• Litigation / disputes:

  • No major public lawsuits or high-profile disputes involving GROW and its clients are evident; any contractual disagreements appear to be handled privately.

• Media sentiment:

  • Generally positive to neutral, with GROW often mentioned in connection with rising talents and strong transfer volumes, particularly linked to Austrian football and the Turkish Süper Lig.

Awards / Recognition

• Featured in analytical “Top 20 agencies by cumulative transfer volume” posts for recent transfer windows, highlighting activity relative to its boutique size.

• Recognised in scouting and data circles for its Central European talent pipeline, with several staff and agents active as respected voices on youth development and transfer strategy.