A report released by FIFA revealed that intermediaries or agents were paid a total of $548M so far this year across 3,844 int'l transfers, according to CNN. Since '13, agents have picked up a total of $2.14B. The report analyzed data from all global football transfers in the past five years. Close to 20% of int'l transfers in this five-year period involved an agent, with individual players "more likely to use them than clubs." In terms of countries, Italian clubs "most commonly relied on agents for incoming players" in '18, with over 45% of the countries 175 transfers involving intermediaries. England was second, although agents that were employed by English clubs "were the highest-earning," accruing a total of $155.8M so far this year. Agents connected with European clubs accounted for 96% of the money paid to intermediaries in '18. Currently, anyone is able to act as an agent on behalf of a player, but it was reported that FIFA is "planning to reintroduce exams for agents," which were previously ditched in '15 (CNN, 12/13).
