TaP23
Boutique Elite Agency
UK €20mm+
Key Facts
Also known as: TaP23 Sports & Athlete Representation
Founded: 2023 (official launch 2024)
Headquarters: London, United Kingdom (Great Portland Street, W1W)
Players: 14 (4) – Total market value: approx. €20mm+
FIFA/FA registration: FIFA licensed agents operating under The FA (England) – Paul Dalglish, Ohi Longe, Hafeez Sanusi (license numbers not publicly listed)
Languages: English (working with international clients across Europe and beyond)
Regions covered: UK & Ireland, DACH region, wider Europe, global commercial markets
Email: info@tap23.net
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tap23
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/tap23/
X: https://x.com/_tap23
About
TaP23 is a boutique football and athlete representation agency co-founded by former Premier League and MLS player-coach Paul Dalglish and leading talent manager Ben Mawson. Built off the back of Mawson’s TaP Music and Dalglish’s UEFA Pro Licence and club president experience, TaP23 positions itself as a full-service management company rather than a traditional “agent”.
The agency focuses on a small, high-end client base, combining elite football expertise with world-class commercial, media and content support for players. From performance coaching and data analysis to PR, social media, mental health support and wealth planning, TaP23 aims to cover every aspect of a modern player’s on- and off-field career.
Key People
CEO / Co-Founder: Paul Dalglish – ex-Premier League and MLS player, UEFA Pro Licence coach, former head coach and club president in the US, now FIFA licensed agent.
Co-Founder: Ben Mawson – barrister-turned-talent manager and co-founder of TaP Music, which manages global music stars and has been recognised as a leading talent management company worldwide.
Ambassador / Client: Sir Kenny Dalglish – Liverpool legend acts as TaP23 ambassador and is part of the client roster.
Media & Broadcast Talent (selected): Kelly Cates – leading UK football broadcaster whose media and commercial work is handled by TaP23.
Licensed agents:
Paul Dalglish – FIFA licensed agent, registered with The FA (England).
Ohi Longe – FIFA licensed agent at TaP23.
Hafeez Sanusi – licensed agent working with TaP23.
Client Roster
Top players and talents (current)
Nathan Patterson (Everton FC), 16/10/2001
Liam Scales (Celtic FC), 08/08/1998
Oladapo Joshua “Dapo” Afolayan (FC St. Pauli), 11/09/1997
David Alaba (Real Madrid CF), 24/06/1992
Arron Lyall (Greenock Morton FC, on loan from Ross County), 27/09/2003
Rory Whittaker (Southampton FC / U21 setup), 10/08/2007
Vimal Yoganathan (Barnsley FC), 13/01/2006
Valentin Yotov (Glacis United FC), 15/01/2006
Dubem Eze (Scunthorpe United), 08/03/2005
Abube Onuchukwu (Ipswich Town U21), 18/12/2005
Pemi Aderoju (Eastbourne Borough, on loan from Peterborough United), 05/05/2004
Ody Alfa (Bracknell Town), 09/03/1999
Tolu Ladapo (Carshalton Athletic), 21/03/2004
Temi Babalola (Forest Green Rovers), 30/03/2001
Dubem Eze (Scunthorpe United), 08/03/2005
Jason Adigun (Chelmsford City), 02/12/2003
Pemi Aderoju (Eastbourne Borough, on loan from Peterborough United), 05/05/2004
Notable former clients
Prince Adegoke (Brito SC), 03/11/2003
Coaches / Staff represented
Sir Kenny Dalglish – ambassador and client of TaP23
Kelly Cates – broadcaster and media client
Notable Deals
2024 – Liam Scales – Celtic FC – four-year contract extension to 2028 (extension deal, fee undisclosed).
2025 – Vimal Yoganathan – Barnsley FC to Oldham Athletic – Barnsley contract extension to 2028 combined with a loan move to Oldham Athletic.
2025 – Rory Whittaker – Hibernian to Southampton – permanent transfer to Southampton on a three-year contract, initially for the under-21s.
2025 – Dubem Eze – Bolton Wanderers to Scunthorpe United – permanent move into senior National League football (free transfer).
2025 – Temi Babalola – Worthing FC to Forest Green Rovers – step into the EFL on a free transfer.
2025 – Pemi Aderoju – Peterborough United to Eastbourne Borough – season-long loan in National League South.
2025 – Ody Alfa – free agent to Bracknell Town – signing with Bracknell after spells with Rochdale and Slough Town.
2023 – Prince Adegoke – Chelsea to Charlton Athletic – free transfer with one-year deal plus option (former client).
Services
On-field services:
Elite performance support using UEFA Pro Licence coaching and tailored training input from Paul Dalglish.
Data-driven performance and career analysis.
Career pathway planning, including loans, permanent transfers and timing of moves into top-five leagues.
Legal support and contract negotiation for transfers, extensions and performance bonuses.
Off-field services:
Profile elevation and protection, including PR and social media strategy.
In-house content production and storytelling.
Commercial deal-making from boot contracts to fashion and lifestyle partnerships.
Mental health and wellbeing support.
Long-term wealth planning and concierge-style VIP services.
Advice on charity, philanthropy and foundations.
Partner Network
Clubs across the UK and Europe, including Everton, Celtic, Barnsley, Forest Green Rovers, Scunthorpe United and others through player moves.
Elite academies and youth systems such as Liverpool, Bayern Munich, Hibernian, Ipswich Town, Barnsley and Charlton via players’ development pathways.
Legal, tax and wealth-planning advisors linked to the wider TaP Music ecosystem.
PR, media and content production partners in sport and entertainment.
Track Record (last 3 seasons)
Total transfers completed: At least 10 player moves and loans since 2023.
Deals ≥ €10m: 0 confirmed since formation (Nathan Patterson’s high-value move to Everton predates TaP23).
Clients in top-5 leagues: 2 (Premier League – Nathan Patterson; Bundesliga – Dapo Afolayan).
National team clients: At least 3 senior internationals (Scotland – Patterson, Republic of Ireland – Scales, Austria – Alaba) plus multiple youth internationals (Wales U21, Bulgaria U19, Scotland youth levels).
Renewal / extension deals: Confirmed multi-year extensions for Liam Scales at Celtic and Vimal Yoganathan at Barnsley, alongside associated loan placements.
Approach & Philosophy
TaP23 describes itself as “future-facing athlete representation”, designed to give players a full management team rather than a single agent. The agency blends detailed coaching and performance insight with high-end commercial and media management.
They deliberately keep the client list small, focusing on elite players and top prospects so they can attend games regularly, provide granular feedback and plan careers over the long term. The model is built on trust, selectivity and a willingness to invest in young talent early and grow with them.
Fees & Transparency
TaP23 does not publicly publish its commission structure or standard fee schedule. Available information suggests they operate within FIFA and FA intermediary regulations, with commissions broadly in line with typical market ranges for elite representation.
Given the boutique positioning, TaP23 emphasises value through a high-touch service that bundles negotiation, performance support, media management and commercial work. Specific commission levels, image-rights structures and expense policies are agreed individually with clients and not disclosed publicly.
Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions:
No public disciplinary actions, bans or intermediary sanctions involving TaP23 or its named agents.
Litigation / disputes:
No significant public litigation or high-profile disputes involving TaP23 have surfaced in mainstream football media.
Media sentiment:
Generally positive to neutral. Profiles frame TaP23 as a high-end, boutique agency combining elite football know-how with global entertainment-industry management, with an emphasis on quality over quantity of clients.
Awards / Recognition
The sister company TaP Music has been recognised as one of the world’s leading talent management companies, underlining TaP23’s credibility in high-level talent and brand management.
Representation of Real Madrid’s David Alaba and senior internationals such as Nathan Patterson and Liam Scales places TaP23 firmly in the elite market segment despite its relatively recent launch.
