Unique Sports Group (USG)
Premier Talent Pipeline
UK €1.2bn
Key Facts
Also known as: Unique; USM + ISMG (legacy brands)
Founded: 2021 (merger of London-based Unique Sports Management and Germany’s International Sports Management)
Headquarters: 20 Bridge Road, Hunton Bridge, Kings Langley WD4 8RE, United Kingdom — plus offices in Manchester, Barcelona and Karlsruhe
Players: ≈ 600 represented; Total Market Value: £1.15bn
FIFA/FA registration: Multiple FA-licensed agents (e.g., Will Salthouse, Marlon Fleischmann, Barry Whelan) and DFB-licensed agents led by Gordon Stipic-Wipfler
Languages: English, German, Spanish, Italian, French
Regions covered: UK & Ireland, DACH, Spain, France, Italy, Middle East, Scandinavia, North & South America
Email: info@uniquesg.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/uniquesg.uk
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uniquesportsgroup
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/unique-sports-group
X: https://x.com/uniquesg
About
Unique Sports Group is a top-five global football agency formed by the 2021 USM-ISMG merger. With cumulative transaction values beyond £1 billion and deals in 12 countries, USG offers “360°” player management from academy to retirement, combining Premier-League expertise with a strong Bundesliga footprint and growing women’s and cricket divisions.
Key People
Will Salthouse – Founder & CEO
Gordon Stipic-Wipfler – Joint CEO, Europe
Steve Hitchen – Director of Football (former Tottenham sporting director)
Licensed agents (sample): Marlon Fleischmann, Barry Whelan, Alejandro Boesch
Client Roster
Top players (current)
Anthony Gordon (Newcastle United)
Marc Guéhi (Crystal Palace)
Brennan Johnson (Tottenham Hotspur)
Jacob Ramsey (Newcastle United)
Maxence Lacroix (Crystal Palace)
Hakan Çalhanoğlu (Inter Milan)
Calvin Bassey (Fulham)
Djordje Petrovic (AFC Bournemouth)
Alexis Saelemaekers (AC Milan)
Dwight McNeil (Everton)
Aaron Wan-Bissaka (West Ham United)
Rising talents / U23
Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal)
Lewis Miley (Newcastle United)
Taylor Harwood-Bellis (Southampton)
Malick Thiaw (AC Milan)
Notable former clients
Reece James (Chelsea)
Phil Foden (Manchester City)
Coaches/Staff represented
Keith Andrews (Brentford)
Will Still (Southampton FC)
Richie Wellens (manager)
Conor Hourihane (manager)
Steve Hitchen (sporting-director advisory)
Notable Deals
2025 – Jhon Durán: Aston Villa → Al-Nassr, €77–83 m, 5½-year contract
2024 – Aaron Wan-Bissaka: Manchester United → West Ham, ~£15 m, seven-year deal
2023 – Anthony Gordon: Everton → Newcastle, £40 m + add-ons, long-term contract
2023 – Brennan Johnson: Nottingham Forest → Tottenham, £47.5 m, six-year deal
2022 – Reece James: Chelsea extension to 2030 (club-record salary for a defender)
2021 – Marc Guéhi: Chelsea → Crystal Palace, £18 m, five-year deal
2021 – Hakan Çalhanoğlu: AC Milan → Inter Milan (Bosman/free)
Services
Contract negotiation & renewals
Domestic & international transfers / loans
Image rights & commercial sponsorship
PR, branding & social-media content
Legal, tax & immigration support
Data-driven performance analytics & video scouting
Well-being: nutrition, mental health, injury & rehab care
Concierge, relocation & family services
Partner Network
Strong relationships with Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga clubs (e.g., Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Inter, Barcelona)
Links to elite academies in England & Germany
Backed by Velocity Capital (strategic private-equity investor, 2025)
Specialist lawyers, physios, nutritionists and marketing agencies
Track Record (2022-23 to 2024-25)
Total transfers completed: 300+ across 12 countries
Deals ≥ €10 m: ~35 (including Durán, Gordon, Johnson)
Clients in top-5 leagues: 120+
National-team clients: 60+ senior internationals
Renewal/extension deals: 70+ (e.g., Reece James, Jacob Ramsey, Odilon Kossounou)
Approach & Philosophy
USG blends relationship-driven representation with data-first recruitment. In-house analysts identify tactical fits, while former club scouts led by Steve Hitchen engage sporting directors early in decision cycles. Player pathways emphasise gradual first-team exposure through strategic loans and early brand-building under the #BeUnique banner.
Fees & Transparency
Commissions typically 5–7 % of gross contract; aligns with FIFA’s pending 6 % cap for single-party representation
Dual representation allowed with written consent, capped at 10 %
Image-rights deals invoiced through client SPVs; expenses re-charged at cost with quarterly statements
Compliance & Reputation
Disciplinary actions / sanctions: None publicly recorded
Litigation / disputes: No major court cases; active in industry challenge to FIFA fee-cap proposals
Media sentiment: Generally positive for talent pipeline; some scrutiny over private-equity stake and consolidation
Awards / recognition: Forbes 2025 Top-5 Global Football Talent Agencies; ranked fifth by squad market value on Transfermarkt
