LIAN Sports & Partners
Balkan Powerhouse
Ireland/Serbia €430mm
Key Facts
Also known as: LIAN Sports Group; Lian Sports & Partners
Founded: 2014 (Irish company incorporation; group previously linked to Malta-registered entities)
Headquarters: Ground Floor Suites, 6 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin 2, Ireland (Company No. 546623; VAT IE3286552TH)
Players: ≈ 140 total • 75 in top-tier leagues • Total squad value ≈ €430mm
FIFA/FA registration: Operates with multiple FIFA-licensed agents (e.g., Fali Ramadani, Nikola Damjanac, Javier Coso Ruiz, Miquel Bosch Ladaria, Luis Bardají)
Languages: English; plus regional coverage via staff based in Spain, Italy, Austria and the Balkans
Regions covered: EU (Italy, Spain, England), Balkans, Middle East (Saudi Arabia, Qatar)
Email: info@liansports.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/liansports/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/liansportsofficial/
About
Lian Sports & Partners is a leading football management agency that began in the Balkans and expanded globally across elite European leagues. The firm emphasizes deep market relationships and creative deal-making across transfers and contract negotiations.
Key People
Founder/Executive: Fali Ramadani (FIFA-licensed)
Partner/Executive: Nikola Damjanac (FIFA-licensed)
Senior agents (selection): Javier Coso Ruiz, Miquel Bosch Ladaria, Luis Bardají García, Vasili Devin Barbis, Fulvio Marrucco, Ciro Caruso, Armin Uzunovic
Client Roster
Top players and talents (current):
André Onana (Trabzonspor)
Milos Kerkez (Liverpool FC)
Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest)
Luis Suárez (Sporting CP)
Federico Chiesa (Liverpool FC)
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal SFC)
Iván Fresneda (Sporting CP)
Marc Pubill (Atlético Madrid)
Marin Pongračić (ACF Fiorentina)
Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla FC)
Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli SFC)
Josip Šutalo (Ajax)
Luis Suárez (Sporting CP)
Amar Dedić (SL Benfica)
Bryan Zaragoza (RC Celta)
Hugo Sotelo (RC Celta)
Cristian Shpendi (Cesena FC)
Iván Fresneda (Sporting CP)
Jesús Areso (Athletic Bilbao)
Keny Arroyo (Cruzeiro)
Manu Sánchez (Levante UD)
Kristijan Jakic (FC Augsburg)
Notable former/earlier-career clients (selection): Luka Jović; Miralem Pjanić; Marcos Alonso; Ante Rebić
Coaches/Staff represented (selection):
Marco Rossi (Hungary national team head coach)
Sylvinho (Albania national team head coach)
Pacheta (Granada CF)
Carles Martínez (Toulouse FC)
Notable Deals
2025 — Milos Kerkez: AFC Bournemouth → Liverpool; ~£40m; five-year deal to 2030
2024 — Federico Chiesa: Juventus → Liverpool; ~£10m fee
2023 — André Onana: Inter → Manchester United; ~€50m; five-year contract
2023 — Kalidou Koulibaly: Chelsea → Al-Hilal; ~£20m/€23m; three-year deal
2022 — Kalidou Koulibaly: Napoli → Chelsea; ~€40m; four-year contract
2020 — Federico Chiesa: Fiorentina → Juventus; two-year loan + obligation (~€50m total if conditions met)
2019 — Luka Jović: Eintracht Frankfurt → Real Madrid; ~€65m + add-ons; six-year contract
Services
Contract negotiation; domestic/international transfers & loans
Image rights and sponsorships; media/PR and brand support
Legal/tax coordination; international relocation
Scouting/market analysis and performance advisory
Partner Network
Club and league footprint reflected by placements in: Premier League (Liverpool, Man United, Nottingham Forest), Serie A (Fiorentina), LaLiga (Sevilla, Celta), Eredivisie (Ajax), Primeira Liga (Sporting CP), Saudi Pro League (Al-Hilal, Al-Ahli), Qatar Stars League (Al-Rayyan)
Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed: Numerous across top-5 leagues and Middle East
Deals ≥ €10m: Multiple (Kerkez, Koulibaly, Onana, Chiesa structure)
Clients in top-5 leagues: 74 currently in first tiers
National team clients: Several current internationals (e.g., Koulibaly – Senegal; Onana – Cameroon; Chiesa – Italy)
Renewal/extension deals: Ongoing; not centrally disclosed by the agency
Approach & Philosophy
Relationship-driven and expansion-minded: began with Balkan scouting, now operates globally. The firm stresses a highly qualified management team, long-standing ties with decision-makers, and creative structuring to maximize outcomes for clients.
Fees & Transparency
Commission structures and expense policies are not publicly posted; work proceeds under FIFA and relevant FA regulations, with dual representation subject to written consent where applicable.
Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions: No public sanctions against the agency
Litigation / disputes: Principal executives have been subjects of a Spanish investigation since 2020 concerning alleged tax and money-laundering offences tied to historic transfer practices; no final conviction reported as of August 2025: El PaísBalkan InsightLa VanguardiaUltima Hora
Media sentiment: Mixed — strong sporting portfolio and high-profile deals, offset by investigative reporting and legal scrutiny
Awards/Recognition
Verified agency status on major industry databases; widely profiled for top-level portfolio
