Sports360 and Bulut Sportsmanagement join forces in the Netherlands
Sports360 has announced a major expansion of its European footprint with the launch of Sports360 Netherlands, created through a strategic partnership with Bulut Sportsmanagement, the agency led by Dutch-Turkish agent Haci Bulut.
The new joint venture aims to connect the Netherlands – one of Europe’s most productive talent hubs – even more directly to the top five leagues, combining Sports360’s global reach with Bulut’s on-the-ground expertise in the Dutch market.
On Instagram, Sports360 framed the move as the natural next step after more than three years of close collaboration with Bulut, including joint work with forward Sheraldo Becker, who has played in the Bundesliga and La Liga in recent seasons.
A partnership built on three years of collaboration
The partnership between Sports360 and Bulut Sportsmanagement did not appear overnight. Both sides have been working together informally for several years, particularly around Dutch-based players making the jump to top European leagues.
In their joint announcement, Volker Struth and Sascha Breese of Sports360 highlighted the strategic logic behind the move:
“The Netherlands has always been a breeding ground for exceptional football talent. With Bulut and his team, we’re now perfectly positioned to support those players on a global scale – from early career development to international transfers.”
For Sports360, which has historically been anchored in the German market, the step aligns with a broader strategy of building specialised local presences in key football regions instead of relying solely on loose international partnerships.
Who are Sports360?
From German powerhouse to multi-market player
Sports360 GmbH is one of Germany’s leading football agencies, founded by Volker Struth and based near Cologne. Over the past decade, it has represented or advised a number of high-profile players and coaches and has become a major player in the Bundesliga transfer market.
The agency is known for:
- Strong roots in the German market, particularly with top-flight Bundesliga clubs
- Long-term relationships with elite players and national-team regulars
- Strategic contract work and career planning rather than purely transactional deals
In 2025, reports in Spain and Germany underlined Sports360’s scale when Toni Kroos became a shareholder and adviser to the agency that has represented him since 2009 – underscoring its role at the very top of the European game.
Why the Dutch market is so important for Sports360
For Sports360, entering the Netherlands with a dedicated structure is a logical step. Dutch clubs have long been specialists in developing and exporting talent to England, Germany, Spain and Italy. Ajax, Feyenoord, PSV and AZ in particular have built strong reputations – and business models – around nurturing players and selling them at the right moment.
By adding Sports360 Netherlands, the agency can:
- Identify top prospects earlier, while they are still in youth or reserve teams
- Support families and players locally in their own language and environment
- Work more seamlessly with Dutch clubs on timing and structure of international transfers
- Offer Dutch talents a clearly defined pathway into the German, English or Spanish top tiers
In other words, the Netherlands becomes not just a recruitment market, but an integrated part of Sports360’s wider European pipeline.
Who are Bulut Sportsmanagement and Haci Bulut?
A local specialist in the Dutch ecosystem
Bulut Sportsmanagement, led by Haci Bulut, has spent the last six years building relationships across Dutch football – from academies and smaller clubs up to the top divisions. In the joint announcement, Bulut summed up that journey:
“After six years of building relationships and working with some of the most promising young Dutch players, this partnership with Sports360 is a natural next step. Combining their global expertise with our local insights creates the perfect setup for long-term success.”
Bulut’s agency has focused heavily on youth development and transition phases – that delicate period when players move from academy football into senior squads, often needing careful guidance on contracts, playing time and loan options. The collaboration with Sports360 around Sheraldo Becker – who moved from the Eredivisie into the Bundesliga before making a high-profile switch to La Liga – is a good example of how Dutch-based players can benefit from a combined local-global approach.
What Bulut brings into Sports360 Netherlands
Through Bulut Sportsmanagement, Sports360 Netherlands immediately gains local knowledge of clubs, coaches and decision-makers across Dutch football.
A network of young Dutch players are already on the radar of bigger European leagues. Cultural and language alignment with players and families, particularly those with multicultural backgrounds in Dutch urban centres. They will benefit on-site support for scouting, negotiations and everyday player care
Inside the Sports360 Netherlands project
Scouting, data and on-the-ground presence
The creation of Sports360 Netherlands signals that the agency sees the country as a core market, not just a place to visit during transfer windows. The new setup is expected to blend:
- Traditional live scouting and relationships with Dutch clubs
- Data-driven analysis of players in the Eredivisie, Eerste Divisie and youth competitions
- Early-stage guidance for players on contracts, education and dual career planning
- Cross-border coordination with Sports360 offices in Germany and other markets
For players, that means they can start working with an agency that understands the realities of Dutch football – the salary structures, pathway through local clubs, and the right timing to move abroad – while still having access to one of Europe’s most powerful agency networks when the time comes to take the next step.
What it means for the next generation of Dutch talent
For the next wave of Dutch prospects, the Sports360 – Bulut Sportsmanagement partnership could have a tangible impact on career routes with smarter moves, not just bigger moves: Instead of jumping at the first big offer from abroad, players can plan a staged path – for example, a move from the Eredivisie to the Bundesliga before targeting the Premier League.
It will also provide better support for families: With agents who understand both local culture and international markets, families may find it easier to evaluate options and avoid risky decisions.
More visibility: Being part of a network that spans top clubs in Germany and beyond increases the chances that Dutch talents are seen by the right decision-makers at the right time.
Why this partnership matters for the agency landscape
The launch of Sports360 Netherlands with Bulut Sportsmanagement shows how the modern agency game is evolving. Instead of simply opening satellite offices, major agencies are increasingly building hybrid models, where global structures are combined with strong local partners. Investing in development markets, rather than focusing only on final, high-value transfers.
With one of Germany’s most influential agencies teaming up with a specialist Dutch operator, the partnership sends a clear message: the battle for the next generation of Dutch stars – and the deals that will shape their careers – has just moved to a new level.
