SportCapital Football Agency by Gonzalo Vargas Ripalda
Ecuadorian Talent Specialists
Ecuador €24mm
Key Facts
Also known as: SportCapital EC
Founded: 2014
Headquarters: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Players: 25+ (1st tier: 22) – Total market value: €24mm
FIFA/FA registration: FIFA-licensed agent; licensed intermediary with Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol (FEF) and The FA
Languages: Spanish, English
Regions covered: Ecuador, wider South America, Mexico (Liga MX), USA/MLS, Israel, Argentina, Paraguay
Email: info@sportcapital.ec
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sportcapital_ec
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sportcapitalec
X: https://x.com/sportcapitalec
About
SportCapital Football Agency is a Guayaquil-based agency founded in 2014 by Ecuadorian intermediary Gonzalo Vargas Ripalda, focused on developing Ecuadorian and Latin American talent for international markets. The firm represents a mix of senior internationals and emerging prospects across LigaPro, Liga MX, MLS, Argentina, Israel and Paraguay, with a strong pipeline from Independiente del Valle and CS Emelec.
SportCapital presents itself as a family-oriented, holistic agency, emphasising academic support, psychological care and long-term career planning for players and their families rather than just short-term transfers.
Key People
CEO/Founder: Gonzalo Vargas Ripalda – Ecuadorian intermediary, founder of SportCapital, FIFA-licensed agent and FEF-registered intermediary. He leads football operations, strategic club relationships and senior contract negotiations.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gonzalo-vargas-ripaldaLicensed agents:
Gonzalo Vargas – FIFA agent; registered with Federación Ecuatoriana de Fútbol and listed as “Vargas – SportCapital EC” in intermediary databases.
Client Roster
Top players and talents (current)
Patrik Mercado (Independiente del Valle) – Date of birth: 31 July 2003
Anderson Julio (FC Dallas) – Date of birth: 31 May 1996
Leonardo Campana (New England Revolution) – Date of birth: 24 July 2000
Ismael Díaz (Club León) – Date of birth: 12 May 1997
Enner Valencia (Pachuca) – Date of birth: 4 November 1989
Jordy Alcívar (Independiente del Valle) – Date of birth: 5 August 1999
Carlos Salcedo (Monterrey) – Date of birth: 29 September 1993
Michael Estrada (LDU Quito) – Date of birth: 7 April 1996
Gustavo Cortez (Independiente del Valle) – Date of birth: 11 October 1997
Cristian Martínez (Ironi Kiryat Shmona) – Date of birth: 6 February 1997
Ronald Briones (Independiente del Valle) – Date of birth: 15 June 2000
Fernando León (CS Emelec) – Date of birth: 11 April 1993
Elvio Vera (Sportivo Ameliano) – Date of birth: 14 December 2000
Hernán Galíndez (Huracán) – Date of birth: 30 March 1987
Rafael Romo (Universidad Católica, Quito) – Date of birth: 25 February 1990
Romario Ibarra (Vinotinto FC) – Date of birth: 24 September 1994
Aníbal Leguizamón (Belgrano) – Date of birth: 10 January 1992
Gilmar Napa (CS Emelec) – Date of birth: 5 January 2003
Stalin Valencia (Once Caldas) – Date of birth: 10 October 2003
Washington Corozo (CS Emelec) – Date of birth: 9 July 1998
Gipson Preciado (Independiente Juniors) – Date of birth: 4 June 2005
Juan Pérez (Gimnasia La Plata) – Date of birth: 25 July 2004
Tommy Chamba (CS Emelec) – Date of birth: 23 October 2004
Jheremy Gonzaga (Naranja Mekánica FC) – Date of birth: 10 February 2006
Bolívar Tobar (CS Emelec U20) – Date of birth: 28 August 2008
Matias Marin (Inter Miami CF II) – Date of birth: 7 October 2007
Jeremy Valverde (CS Emelec U20) – Date of birth: 7 January 2004
Notable former clients
Not publicly detailed; some current clients (for example Enner Valencia and Romario Ibarra) have had long multi-club careers where SportCapital has advised them through different stages.
Coaches/Staff represented
No dedicated coaching roster is publicly listed; the agency’s focus is primarily on players.
Notable Deals
2024 – Leonardo Campana – Inter Miami to New England Revolution (MLS trade)
Represented Ecuadorian striker Leonardo Campana in a record-breaking MLS domestic trade from Inter Miami CF to New England Revolution on 19 December 2024. The deal was structured as $2.5m guaranteed General Allocation Money (potentially up to $3.25m with incentives) plus international roster slots and a sell-on percentage for Inter Miami.2025 – Ismael Díaz – Universidad Católica (Quito) to Club León (Liga MX)
Move of Panama international Ismael Díaz from Ecuadorian side Universidad Católica to Liga MX club León ahead of the 2025 season, following an excellent goalscoring spell in Ecuador. Fee undisclosed.2024 – Hernán Galíndez – Aucas to Huracán (Argentina)
Guided Ecuador national-team goalkeeper Hernán Galíndez from Aucas to Argentine Primera División side Huracán in January 2024 on a multi-year deal, later extended to December 2027.2023 – Rafael Romo – OH Leuven / D.C. United to Universidad Católica (Quito)
Venezuelan international goalkeeper Rafael Romo joined Universidad Católica in Ecuador in 2023 after spells in Belgium and MLS; SportCapital manages his current spell in LigaPro. Fee undisclosed.2024–2025 – Cristian Martínez – Plaza Amador / Saudi Arabia to Ironi Kiryat Shmona (Israel)
Panamanian midfielder Cristian Jesús Martínez moved to Israeli Premier League club Ironi Kiryat Shmona (initially on loan, later permanent) during 2024–25, adding another top-flight league to SportCapital’s footprint.2023 – Tommy Chamba – Orense to CS Emelec (Ecuador)
Highly rated Ecuador U20 midfielder Tommy Leonardo Chamba Chenche transferred from Orense to CS Emelec on a contract through 2026, part of SportCapital’s focus on exporting and consolidating young LigaPro talent.2025 – Romario Ibarra – Independiente del Valle to Vinotinto FC (Ecuador)
Ecuador international Romario Andrés Ibarra Mina moved within LigaPro from Independiente del Valle to Vinotinto FC in 2025, maintaining his status as a high-profile client in the domestic league.
Services
Contract negotiation for first professional deals, renewals and performance-based extensions
International transfers and loans (LigaPro, Liga MX, MLS, Argentina, Israel, Paraguay)
Career management and long-term planning (club pathway, national-team exposure)
Commercial deals, sponsorships and brand partnerships for leading clients
Legal and regulatory support around FIFA Agents Regulations and national FA rules
Relocation and integration support for moves to Mexico, USA/MLS and Europe
Performance analysis and scouting reports through partner analysts and club contacts
Psychological support and wellbeing via trusted external professionals
Partner Network
Close working relationships with:
Ecuadorian clubs: Independiente del Valle, CS Emelec, LDU Quito, Universidad Católica, Vinotinto FC
International clubs through player deals: New England Revolution, FC Dallas, Pachuca, León, Monterrey, Huracán, Belgrano, Ironi Kiryat Shmona, Sportivo Ameliano, Gimnasia La Plata
Local scouts and academies in Ecuador (particularly the IDV and Emelec ecosystems)
External partners for legal, tax, mental-health and physical preparation support (lawyers, psychologists, physios, personal trainers)
Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed: At least 10 confirmed international moves and loans across Ecuador, Mexico, USA, Argentina, Israel and Paraguay (including Campana, Díaz, Galíndez, Romo, Martínez, Chamba and others).
Deals ≥ €10m: 0 publicly confirmed fees above €10m; the most high-profile structure is the MLS trade package for Leonardo Campana, valued at up to $3.25m in GAM plus assets.
Clients in top-5 leagues: 0 currently (roster is concentrated in LigaPro, Liga MX, MLS, Argentina and other leagues).
National team clients: 5+ current or recent full internationals (Ecuador, Panama, Venezuela), including Enner Valencia, Leonardo Campana, Hernán Galíndez, Rafael Romo, Ismael Díaz and Cristian Martínez.
Renewal/extension deals: 3+ publicly known contract renewals/extensions, including Galíndez extending with Huracán to 2027 and various LigaPro renewals that maintained national-team starters in high-visibility situations.
Approach & Philosophy
SportCapital positions itself as a “family agency”, building long-term relationships with players and their relatives, especially in Ecuador’s provincial and academy ecosystems. The agency’s messaging stresses education, emotional support and off-pitch structure alongside performance, aiming to guide young players from local academies to sustainable careers abroad rather than chasing short-term moves.
On the sporting side, SportCapital is highly focused on Ecuador’s youth production line (Independiente del Valle, Emelec, Orense and others) and then placing clients strategically in Liga MX, MLS, Argentina and Israel, where minutes and international exposure are more realistic than an immediate jump to Europe’s top five leagues. Negotiations are pragmatic, prioritising strong domestic contracts, buy-on clauses and favourable exit routes, as seen in moves for Campana, Díaz and Martínez.
Fees & Transparency
Commission ranges: SportCapital does not publicly publish its commission grid. As a FIFA-licensed agent operating under the 2023 FIFA Football Agent Regulations, its commissions on player contracts and transfers are expected to fall within the FAR caps (commonly around 3–5 % of the player’s guaranteed remuneration, sometimes higher on lower-tier deals), with exact percentages agreed case by case.
Dual representation: No explicit public statement on dual representation; the agency is expected to follow FIFA and FEF rules, which restrict dual representation and require informed written consent where it occurs.
Image rights & extras: For top internationals, image-rights and performance bonuses are handled through separate contracts, but specific structures are not disclosed. Players report standard practices for Latin American agencies rather than bespoke corporate-style image-rights vehicles.
Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions: No public record of FIFA, FEF or league-level sanctions against SportCapital or Gonzalo Vargas as an intermediary as of late 2025.
Litigation / disputes: No major public litigation involving SportCapital has surfaced in mainstream or specialist football media; any disputes appear to have been handled privately if they exist.
Media sentiment: Generally positive to neutral. Local coverage in Ecuador frames Vargas and SportCapital as part of the modernisation of player management, especially for goalkeepers and attacking talents moving abroad, and the agency frequently highlights client achievements (awards, call-ups, transfers) rather than controversial stories.
Awards/recognition
No major international agency awards are publicly listed for SportCapital, but several clients have received significant honours (for example Ismael Díaz as a major tournament top-scorer for Panama, and Galíndez, Valencia and others as key figures for their national teams), which indirectly enhance the agency’s reputation.
