Starting XI Player Management (SXI)
Transatlantic Focus
US €37mm
Key Facts
Also known as: SXI, Starting XI
Founded: 2022 (publicly referenced by 2022)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom
Players: 11 (9) | Total market value: €37mm
FIFA/FA registration: FIFA licensed and the FA (England) – Chris Smith (FARA0418), authorised to represent minors (valid until 29.07.2028)
Languages: English, Spanish
Regions covered: UK, Spain, North America (MLS), Netherlands, Denmark, Mexico (based on current client clubs)
Email: Not publicly listed (website contact form)
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sxi.international/
About
Starting XI Player Management was founded by Jaime Garcia Ramos and positions itself as a “modern agency” built around a player-first approach, with services spanning representation, off-pitch planning and long-term support.
The agency operates with a lean team and a roster concentrated in the US/MLS pipeline plus select European clubs, including PSV and Brøndby.
Key People
Jaime García Ramos – Founder / Director (Football agent)
Spain-based football-agent profile publicly associated with Starting XI Player Management since at least 2022.
Focus: player representation and career strategy across US-to-Europe pathways (based on current roster footprint).
Contacts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jaime-garcia-ramos-8b1426b3/
Chris Smith – Licensed football agent (England)
The FA-registered football agent (FARA0418), authorised for minors representation (to 29.07.2028).
Joined Starting XI Player Management in 2023 per public professional profile information.
Contacts
Licensed agents:
Jaime García Ramos
Chris Smith (The FA – FARA0418)
Client Roster
Top players and talents (current):
Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven) – 09.01.2003
Gabriel Slonina (Chelsea) – 15.05.2004
Justin Che (Brøndby IF) – 18.11.2003
Brian Gutiérrez (Deportivo Guadalajara) – 17.06.2003
Zorhan Bassong (Sporting Kansas City) – 07.05.1999
Danny Leyva (Necaxa) – 05.05.2003
Luca Petrasso (CF Montréal) – 16.06.2000
Sal Olivas (Philadelphia Union) – 11.07.2006
Diego García (FC Dallas) – 17.10.2006
Diego Pepi (Without Club) – 19.12.2004
DeCarlo Guerra (Los Angeles FC 2) – 01.02.2008
Notable former clients:
No former clients could be reliably verified from available public sources (beyond the current roster listings).
Coaches/Staff represented (if any):
None publicly listed.
Notable Deals
2022 – Ricardo Pepi: Dallas → FC Augsburg (€16mm)
2022 – Gabriel Slonina: Chicago → Chelsea (€9mm)
2023 – Ricardo Pepi: FC Augsburg → PSV Eindhoven – Permanent transfer; contract to 30.06.2030 (fee €11mm).
2023 – Justin Che: FC Dallas → Brøndby IF – Permanent transfer; contract to 30.06.2026 (fee not confirmed publicly in accessible sources).
2024 – Zorhan Bassong: CF Montréal → Sporting Kansas City – Permanent transfer; contract not shown on profile (fee not confirmed publicly in accessible sources).
2025 – Luca Petrasso: Toronto FC → CF Montréal – Permanent transfer; contract to 31.12.2026 + club option (fee not confirmed publicly in accessible sources).
2025 – Sal Olivas: (youth) → Philadelphia Union – Signed; contract to 31.12.2028 (fee not applicable).
2025 – Diego García: (youth) → FC Dallas – Signed; contract to 31.12.2027 (fee not applicable).
2026 – Brian Gutiérrez: Chicago Fire → Deportivo Guadalajara (Chivas) – Permanent transfer; contract to 30.06.2030 (fee €4mm).
2026 – Danny Leyva: Seattle Sounders → Necaxa – Permanent transfer; contract end not displayed (fee not confirmed publicly in accessible sources).
Services
Player representation and contract negotiation
Transfer strategy and club pathway planning
“Off the pitch” support via the agency’s player-first model
Long-term career planning and personal development support
Partner Network
Club and academy relationships implied by roster footprint across MLS and Europe (PSV, Brøndby, Chelsea, Chivas, Necaxa).
External specialists not publicly named (legal, tax, relocation) – not disclosed.
Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed: 9 (client club-join moves recorded since 2023 across the current roster).
Deals ≥ €10m: 1 confirmed publicly (Ricardo Pepi to PSV for €11mm).
Clients in top-5 leagues: 1 (Chelsea – Premier League).
National team clients: Senior: 3 (USA: Pepi, Gutiérrez; Canada: Bassong) + multiple youth internationals.
Renewal/extension deals:
Ricardo Pepi – last contract extension 02.02.2025 (PSV).
Luca Petrasso – last contract extension 20.10.2025 (CF Montréal).
Approach & Philosophy
Starting XI frames itself around a player-first, “modern agency” approach, aiming to support both football and life decisions rather than purely transactional transfers.
With a roster concentrated in MLS pipelines plus selected European placements, the model appears built around targeted moves into stable development environments and long-term contract security for high-upside young talent.
Fees & Transparency
Typical football-agent commissions in the market commonly sit in the single-digit percentage range, but terms depend on jurisdiction and contract structure. Under FIFA’s Football Agent Regulations (FFAR), “service fee caps” are defined, plus rules on disclosures and payment mechanics.
In practice, multiple FA/FIFA provisions linked to these frameworks have been subject to temporary suspensions following legal challenges, and national associations have issued their own implementation notes reflecting that reality.
Dual representation policy: permitted only under specific rule conditions (and often restricted) under FFAR concepts; current local application may vary due to ongoing legal/implementation status.
Image-rights handling and expenses: not publicly disclosed by SXI (no public fee card).
Compliance & Reputation (in bullet points)
Disciplinary actions / sanctions: No public sanctions found in the accessible sources reviewed.
Litigation / disputes: No public litigation identified in the accessible sources reviewed.
Media sentiment: Neutral – coverage is largely player-move/roster related, with no sustained negative reporting tied to the agency found in accessible sources.
Awards/recognition
No awards or industry recognitions were publicly listed for the agency in accessible sources.
