Jonathan Barnett (sports agent)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jonathan Ian Barnett (born 28 January 1950) is a British football agent and is the chairman and founder of ICM Stellar Sports.[1] In 2019, he was named the number-one most powerful sports agent in the world, according to Forbes.[2] He is credited as being the man who brought Lennox Lewis into the boxing world.[citation needed]

Career[edit]

While Barnett's first client was cricket player Brian Lara, he has made a name for himself since then representing some of the world's best football players. His client list includes Jack Grealish, Gareth Bale, Saul Niguez, Ruben Loftus-Cheek and Jordan Pickford. He masterminded the £86 million move of Bale to Real Madrid from Tottenham Hotspur.

Barnett's agency is now the fourth-biggest sports management agency in the world and number one in football.[3]

Controversy[edit]

In 2006, Barnett was banned by the Football Association (FA) for 12 months and fined £100,000 for arranging secret rendezvous between his client Ashley Cole and Chelsea F.C. representatives.[4]

Personal life[edit]

Barnett is Jewish and is member of St John's Wood synagogue.[4] He is married and has three children. He is a supporter of Arsenal F.C.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Chambers remains in limbo
  2. ^ Belzer, Jason. "The World's Most Powerful Sports Agents 2019: Soccer's Jonathan Barnett Takes Over At No. 1". Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  3. ^ "World's Most Valuable Sports Agencies". Forbes. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b "The JC Profile: Jonathan Barnett". Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 21 July 2019.

External links[edit]