Do you know that all of the world’s top athletes are represented by top sports agency firms?
All athletes in any sport are represented by sports agents. So it is because these firms assist them in managing all of their affairs, particularly monetary management.
Similarly, they provide the best possible deals and contracts to the athletes. As a result, these sports agent firms must always be at the top of their game.
This list includes some of the best and most formidable agencies, as well as some of the top sports agent firms. These companies are the best at handling the athletes’ financial and public affairs.
So, without further ado, let’s learn more about them.
Top 12 Sports Agent Firms
The list was compiled using data from various websites, including Sportsbrower and Sportytell. But, before we get into the list, take a look at the table below.
| Sports Agent Firms |
| 12. Athletes First |
| 11. MVP Sports Group |
| 10. Octagon Sports Agency |
| 9. Priority Sports & Entertainment |
| 8. SportsTotal |
| 7. Klutch Sports Group |
| 6. GestiFute |
| 5. ICM Stellar Sports |
| 4. Excel Sports Management |
| 3. Wasserman Media Group LLC |
| 2. Boras Corporation |
| 1. Creative Artists Agency (CAA) |
12. Athlete’s first sport.
There are 208 clients.
We will begin our list with Athletes First, the second most valuable NFL agency. The agency was founded in 2001 and is privately owned. The agency’s headquarters are in Laguna Hills, California.
The agency provides full-service athlete management. It has represented elite NFL players since its inception. They handle the contracts, marketing, and endorsements of the players.
Similarly, Athlete First employs three of the most powerful football agents. Furthermore, the agency’s David Mulugheta, Todd France, and Brian Murphy have collectively negotiated $4.4 billion in NFL contracts.
The agency’s mission statement is “Do the right thing, with the right people, for the right reasons.” Aside from negotiators, their agents include trained attorneys. As a client service, they also organize events and charities.
Athlete First had 19 of the first 62 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. According to Forbes, the agency’s commission is $85.2 million.
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11. MVP Sports Group, Inc.
Baseball is a sport.
Number of customers: 24
The MVP Sports Group, led by agent Dan Lozano, is the next top sports agency firm.
It was founded in 2010 and is a premier full-service agency that represents some of the top MLB players. The headquarters of the company is in Los Angeles, California.
MVP Sports Group negotiated three of MLB’s largest contracts. Similarly, the agency represents a dozen other major league players.
However, Manny Machado’s $300 million deal with the San Diego Padres, Alberto Pujol’s $240 million deal with the Los Angeles Angels, and Joe Vetto’s $225 million deal with the Cincinnati Reds are the three largest contracts.
Athlete representation, sports marketing, sponsorship opportunities, and community outreach campaigns are also specialties of the agency.
According to Forbes, MVP Sports Group commissions are worth $44.1 million, with a contract value of $872 million under management.
10. Octagon Sports Management
Football, hockey, basketball, baseball, golf, and tennis are all popular sports.
Total number of clients: 366
Octagon Sports Agency represents athletes from a wide range of major sports leagues. As a result, the agency firm has one of the most diverse rosters of athletes.
The company’s headquarters are in Stanford, Connecticut. Advantage International, based in Washington, DC, was founded in 1982. It is an Interpublic Group subsidiary.
In addition to representing some of the biggest names in sports, the firm is also successful sports and brand consultant. It is also the largest sponsorship consultant.
Octagon Sports Agency is a pioneer in the field of athlete representation and management. Among its many clients is Olympic gold medalists Simon Biles, Stephen Curry, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Dustin Byfuglien.
Similarly, the company manages the marketing of various brands in 22 different countries, including BMW, Mastercard, Cisco, and others. Sports Business Journal Awards named the firm Best Talent Representation of the Year in 2018.
Furthermore, Forbes estimates the firm’s commissions to be $112.4 million, and it manages contracts worth $2.3 billion.
Sports and entertainment are given top priority.
9. Basketball and football
Number of customers: 83
Priority Sports & Entertainment, founded in 1985, is a full-service sports management firm that represents NFL and NBA players. The company’s headquarters are in Chicago, Illinois.
The agency is one of the largest independently owned sports agencies in the United States. Mark Bartelstein, a former Morgan Stanley investment banker, founded it.
Mark Bartelstein’s most notable contract negotiation is that of NBA star John “Hot Rod” Williams. Furthermore, the agreement earned the NBA star the title of highest-paid player in team sports history at the time.
According to the Sports Business Journal, Bartelstein is one of the most influential sports agents. Furthermore, Forbes has named the company twice as one of the World’s Most Valuable Sports Agencies.
Similarly, Forbes estimates the firm’s commissions to be $42.9 million, with a contract value of $1.17 billion under management.
8. Indie Sports and Entertainment
Baseball, football, and basketball
Number of customers: 110
Independent Sports and Entertainment, formerly known as Relativity Sports, is a leading marketing agency firm. The agency firm’s headquarters are in Los Angeles, California.
Strategic advice, superior contract negotiation, marketing, brand creation and management, and global partnership development are all available through the agency.
By 2020, the firm will have negotiated over a billion dollars in active contracts. Furthermore, the most notable contract was that of Miguel Cabrera, who signed an 8-year, $248 million contract with the Detroit Tigers.
Similarly, Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, and Jordan Zimmermann are among the valuable client lists.
According to Forbes, Independent Sports and Entertainment has $65.4 million in commissions and a contract value of $1.05 billion under management.
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7. Klutch Sports Group
Basketball and football
Number of customers: 49
Klutch Sports Group is the top sports agency firm on our list at number seven. Rich Paul, LeBron James’ best friend, and sports agent, founded the agency in 2012.
Despite its meteoric rise, the agency is now a subsidiary of the United Talent Agency (UTA). The company’s headquarters are in Los Angeles, California.
Over the last five years, the agency has risen to the 23rd spot on the list of the world’s most valuable sports agencies. Initially representing basketball, the agency is now also representing football.
The agency’s clientele includes some of the NBA’s biggest names. Of course, Paul’s best friend LeBron James is on the list, as are NBA stars such as Ben Simmions, Anthony Davis, and John Wall, among others.
The Klutch Sports Group represented two of the first three picks in the 2020 NFL Draft.
According to Forbes, the group has $58.1 million in commissions and $1.6 billion in contract value under management.
6. GestiFute
Soccer is a sport.
There are 137 clients.
GestiFute is a Portuguese agency firm that represents soccer players. Jorge Mendes founded the business in 1996. The company’s headquarters are in Porto, Portugal.
The agency is involved in several high-profile transfers in the European transfer market. Previously, Portugal allowed third parties to own a portion of the player’s economic rights to receive a portion of the transfer fees.
As a result, GestiFute was actively involved in third-party ownership before FIFA imposing a restriction. Silva International Investment is the company’s largest shareholder, and Riccardo Silva is its current CEO.
Among the agency’s valuable clients is five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo, David De Gea, Bernando Silva, and James Rodrguez.
According to Forbes, GestiFute’s commission is $104 million. Its contract value under management is also $1.04 billion.
5. ICM Stellar Sports
Sports include soccer and football.
Total number of clients: 390
The ICM Stellar Sports in London is ranked fifth on our list of the top sports agency firms. The agency is the world’s leading soccer agency. Jonathan Barnett and David Manasseh founded the firm in 1994.
Over the years, the agency has managed several elite athletes. As a result, it is one of the largest and most successful sports agencies in the world. Similarly, it has made some of the most significant deals in soccer history.
Aside from being a sports agency, it is also a member of the ICM Partners, a world-leading talent agency that represents artists, content creators, authors, journalists, and other professionals.
ICM Stellar Sports quickly established itself as one of the top agencies representing international athletes after its inception. Gareth Bale, Saul Niguez, and Maxi Gomez are among its notable clients.
Forbes manages the agency’s commission, which is estimated to be $142.6 million and has a contract value of $1.43 billion.
4. Sports Management Excel
Sports include baseball, basketball, and golf.
Number of customers: 183
Excel Sports Management represents several NBA, MLB, and PGA players. Jeff A. Schwartz established the agency in 2002. Its headquarters are located in New York.
For a multi-sport agency, the agency has one of the highest contract-value-to-client ratios in the industry. Similarly, the agency strives to help athletes reach their full professional and personal potential.
The firm’s strategic marketing and public relations campaigns help athletes become more desirable and stand out. As a result, it is one of the most powerful multi-sport agencies in the world.
Tiger Woods, Kevin Love, Blake Griffin, Zack Greinke, and Masahiro Tanaka are among the notable clients of Excel Sports Management.
According to Forbes, the agency’s commission is $191.9 million, with a contract value under the management of $3.99 billion.
3. Wasserman Media Group, Inc.
Soccer, baseball, football, golf, basketball, hockey, and tennis are all popular sports.
There are 727 clients.
The Wasserman Media Group LLC was founded in 1998 as a sports marketing and talent management firm. The agency is based in Los Angeles, and its founder is Lew Wasserman.
The agency offers public relations services to athletes. Its annual sales are expected to be $1.35 billion. As a result, it has risen rapidly among the best agencies.
Wasserman is one of the world’s largest multi-sport agencies. It has also added football agency Key Sports and hockey agency Acme World Sports, allowing the agency to move up the ranks.
Similarly, Russell Westbrook, Roman Josi, Shaq Thompson, Steven Adams, Giancarlo Stanton, and others are among Wasserman’s most valuable clients.
Forbes estimates the group’s commitment to be $331.4 million in 2020, with a contract value under the management of $5.73 billion.
2. Boras Company
Baseball is a sport.
There are 81 clients.
The Boras Corporation is a top baseball agency that represents MLB players. The agency was founded by Scott Boras, who has been named the “Most Powerful Sports Agent in the World.”
The company’s headquarters are in Newport Beach, California. Scott Boras, the company’s founder, has negotiated some of the world’s largest professional contracts.
The most notable contract negotiation, however, is MLB right fielder Bryce Harper’s $330 million deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Similarly, the agency excels at increasing the earnings of elite amateur players in each draft.
Similarly, in addition to Harper, Gerrit Cole, and Stephen Strasburg, Anthony Rendon is a valuable client of Boras Corporation.
According to Forbes, the agency’s commissions total $161.1 million, with a contract value of $3.22 billion under management.
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1. Agency for Creative Artists (CAA)
Baseball, basketball, football, hockey, and soccer are all sports.
There are 828 clients.
And we’ve risen to the top of the list. Creative Artists Agency, based in Los Angeles, is the top sports agency (CAA). The agency was founded by Michael Ovitz.
CAA is widely regarded as the most powerful company in the talent agency industry. Furthermore, the agency is the most dominant sports agency, ranking first in Forbes’ sports agencies 2020.
Similarly, the agency is ranked first in football and basketball, second in hockey, fourth in baseball, and sixth in soccer. Furthermore, it represents nearly 1,000 professional athletes.
However, notable CAA agent negotiations include Robinson Cano’s $240 million contract with the Mariners, Buster Posey’s $167 million deal with the San Francisco Giants, and others.
In addition, the agency employs 11 of the world’s top 50 most powerful agents. Athletes such as Paul George, Drew Brees, Julio Jones, Matt Ryan, and D’Angelo Russell are among the valuable clients.
According to Forbes, CAA’s commissions total $419.3 million, with an $8.86 billion contract value under management.
Conclusion
The sports agency firm is responsible for managing the athletes’ revenues, marketing, endorsement deals, and a variety of other matters. As a result, the agencies listed above are the best and most formidable in the world.
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