LIAN Sports & Partners
Balkan Powerhouse
Ireland €390mm
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: ≈ 130 total • 74 in top-tier leagues • total squad value ≈ €390mm
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)
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 (current):
André Onana (Manchester United)
Milos Kerkez (Liverpool FC)
Nikola Milenković (Nottingham Forest)
Federico Chiesa (Liverpool FC)
Kalidou Koulibaly (Al-Hilal SFC)
Iván Fresneda (Sporting CP)
Marin Pongračić (ACF Fiorentina)
Dodi Lukebakio (Sevilla FC)
Edouard Mendy (Al-Ahli SFC)
Josip Šutalo (Ajax)
Rising talents / U23:
Amar Dedić (SL Benfica)
Bryan Zaragoza (RC Celta)
Cristian Shpendi (Cesena FC)
Iván Fresneda (Sporting CP)
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
