Soccer ball in stadium

The World’s Most Powerful Sports Agents 2019: Soccer’s Jonathan Barnett Takes Over At No. 1

Gareth Bale is a valuable client for Jonathan Barnett, No. 1 on this year’s list of the most powerful sports agents.

Cash has been flying across the soccer world this year, with the summer transfer featuring a €126 million deal for a player who had not yet turned 20: João Félix, now with Atlético Madrid. With all that money sloshing around, it should come as no great surprise that soccer players captured the top three spots on Forbes’ list of the world’s highest-paid athletes in June.

It should not be especially surprising, either, that the world’s most powerful sports agent now comes out of soccer.

Having negotiated more than $1.28 billion in active contracts and transfers fees, with his maximum possible commissions exceeding $128 million, Jonathan Barnett climbs to No. 1 on Forbes’ list, from No. 3 last year.

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