Despite being relegated, Reading FC’s agent fees have nearly doubled.
The Football Association has disclosed the agent fees expenditure for each club in the past year, showing that Reading almost doubled its figure from the previous year in 2023/24.
Agents and intermediaries often spark controversy in football due to their earnings and motives, raising discomfort among many stakeholders. Despite this, their significance and influence in the sport have grown significantly over the past few decades.
In the 2023/24 season, only Derby County, who were aiming for promotion, spent more on agent fees in League One than Reading, with Reading’s expenditure reaching £397,788 compared to Derby County’s £434,465.
Despite suffering relegation, this has nearly doubled on last year’s total of just £200,323.
Among teams in the third tier, Barnsley, Blackpool, and Fleetwood Town were the only ones to exceed the £300,000 mark in agent fees. On the other hand, Shrewsbury Town, Northampton Town, Cheltenham Town, and Carlisle United spent less than £100,000 each on agents in the previous year.
During the period from February 1, 2023, to February 1, 2024, there were 23 transactions involving agent fees, including 14 signings and two permanent departures (George Puscas and Caylan Vickers).
Interestingly, only Wrexham, owned by Hollywood personalities Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney, surpassed £300,000 in agent fees expenditure in League Two.
Furthermore, the Championship clubs collectively spent over £60 million on agents, while Premier League teams contributed significantly to a total of £409 million in agent fees.