Agents and intermediaries: who can do what in the transfer market? | OneFootball

With the winter window closing, France’s courts are drawing lines around who may act in transfers.

According to L'Équipe, the 11th chamber of the Paris criminal court delivered its verdict against Badou Sambagué and three FFF-licensed agents, Martial Kodjia, Lasana Koita and Antonin Mendy. Sambagué faced illegal agent activity, laundering of tax fraud and misuse of corporate assets, the others passive corruption and complicity. All four were convicted.

The court said lawyers cannot act as agents or intermediaries, and agents cannot be front men. Recent months brought convictions to John Valovic-Galtier in December 2024, Jalal Benalla, and Foix bar head Frédéric Baby in November 2023, all for illegal practice. All have appealed.

French law privileges licensed sports agents under the Code du sport. A licence, earned via an exam, permits representation and negotiation under a two-year, renewable mandate filed with the FFF, and clubs may also mandate an agent. Fees are paid by the club via a tripartite agreement, capped at 10%, usually spread across the contract and subject to social charges, except when the club mandates the agent.

EU or EEA nationals may work in France once recorded by the FFF under a time limited authorisation. Non-EU nationals without a licence may act via a convention with a licensed agent, who takes the commission then passes on most, often 90%. The Conseil d’État has barred French nationals from using this route after a challenge by Moussa Sissoko, who has turned to the European courts.

Source: L'Équipe