Stickied League 1 Transfer Rumours/Confirmed Transfers 2024/25

[Judge Dredd]

The FA released money spent on agent fees for the season today (or more accurately, from Feb 1st 2018 until January 31st 2019):

1, Sunderland, £2,873,033;
2, Barnsley, £428,580;
3, Charlton Athletic, £205,095;
4, Portsmouth, £183,790;
5, Fleetwood Town, £183,356;
6, Peterborough United £176,465;
7, Oxford United, £160,678;
8, Coventry City, £155,909;
9, Bradford City, £154,410;
10, Burton Albion, £131,002;
11, Scunthorpe United, 126,207;
12, Luton Town, £124,069;
13, Bristol Rovers, £96,852;
14, Plymouth Argyle, £91,370;
15, Doncaster Rovers, £88,753;
16, Shrewsbury Town, £77,042;
17, AFC Wimbledon, 62,173;
18, Walsall, £55,499;
19, Blackpool, £45,838;
20, Southend United, £44,658;
21, Rochdale, £42,497;
22, Gillingham, £28,088;
23, Wycombe, £19,500;
24, Accrington Stanley, £4,815.

 

[PuB]

What the hell are Sunderland doing spending close to £3m on agents fees? That’s not far off being some teams entire budget at this level.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

What the hell are Sunderland doing spending close to £3m on agents fees? That’s not far off being some teams entire budget at this level.

Because they have it

 

[PuB]

Because they have it

It’s completely unnecessary

 

[Ciderup]

What the hell are Sunderland doing spending close to £3m on agents fees? That’s not far off being some teams entire budget at this level.

Parachute payments I should think.

 

[THE LAST WALTZ]

Surprised to see the spotters third in the table, having spent over £200,000 on agents fees.
I thought Roland wouldn’t spend any money.
Surely that can’t be fees for sales negotiated can it?
Perhaps Bobbin could shed some light.
And before Lamby gets all defensive it is a genuine question, not a dig.

 

[DearneValleyRover]

It’s completely unnecessary

Totally agree but that’s football, the more you have the more it costs

 

[Craig]

Ours is a bit worrying considering we've only signed like 3 or 4 players in that time.

 

[Gassy]

Ours is a bit worrying considering we've only signed like 3 or 4 players in that time.

Contract extensions perhaps?

 

[Craig]

Contract extensions perhaps?

Possibly but apart from youth players I don't recall we've renewed any contracts in that time.

Cauley Woodrow, Jordan Green and Callum Styles all came in for a fee. Dani Pinillos, Ben Williams and Jordan Williams came in on free transfers, maybe the agent commands more when their client is a free? Even so, that we've spent double the amount of the nearest club is still a bit worrying. Not in the amount itself, we've had plenty come in over the past few years and our owners have a few bob, but from the perspective of we're getting shafted by agents it seems. Still not to the tune of £3million mind

 

[Bosox]

maybe the agent commands more when their client is a free?

As I understand it, the agents getting the money here are not the players' agents, the players are not their clients. This is money being paid to 3rd party agents who operate in the shady as fuck area of fixing deals, getting paid by the clubs for liaising between clubs to make the transfer happen. Separately players have their own representation but those agents are paid by the players so wouldn't show up here.

I hate this side of football and it's absolutely the worst thing about potentially going up to the Championship that Luton will get dragged further into this murky world. In an honest and fair world this 3rd party fixer stuff would just be outright banned. Players need agents to represent their interests, clubs do not need these fixers.

 

[Gassy]

As I understand it, the agents getting the money here are not the players' agents, the players are not their clients. This is money being paid to 3rd party agents who operate in the shady as fuck area of fixing deals, getting paid by the clubs for liaising between clubs to make the transfer happen. Separately players have their own representation but those agents are paid by the players so wouldn't show up here.

I hate this side of football and it's absolutely the worst thing about potentially going up to the Championship that Luton will get dragged further into this murky world. In an honest and fair world this 3rd party fixer stuff would just be outright banned. Players need agents to represent their interests, clubs do not need these fixers.

Really? I've never heard of anything like that - I thought it was all for players' agents.

Don't most clubs have a DoF or head of recruitment who liaise between the clubs? EG, when we signed Clarke-Harris from Coventry, their manager even said that Tommy Widdrington (our head of recruitment) gave him a call saying we're interested..?

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Really? I've never heard of anything like that - I thought it was all for players' agents.

Don't most clubs have a DoF or head of recruitment who liaise between the clubs? EG, when we signed Clarke-Harris from Coventry, their manager even said that Tommy Widdrington (our head of recruitment) gave him a call saying we're interested..?

Probably not as much at our level but a lot of shady looking stuff goes on. The reason all the horrible haggling between Cardiff and Nantes RE the Sala transfer is going on is because of this.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/22/willy-mckay-agent-emiliano-sala-cardiff

 

[Gassy]

Probably not as much at our level but a lot of shady looking stuff goes on. The reason all the horrible haggling between Cardiff and Nantes RE the Sala transfer is going on is because of this.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/feb/22/willy-mckay-agent-emiliano-sala-cardiff

Ah cheers for clearing that up, makes sense now!

 

[Ciderup]

Really? I've never heard of anything like that - I thought it was all for players' agents.

Don't most clubs have a DoF or head of recruitment who liaise between the clubs? EG, when we signed Clarke-Harris from Coventry, their manager even said that Tommy Widdrington (our head of recruitment) gave him a call saying we're interested..?

You tapped him up then Gassy? Shocking behaviour. I suggest you return him to Coventry immediately and delete all his goals.
Bloody cheats!

 

[Gassy]

You tapped him up then Gassy? Shocking behaviour. I suggest you return him to Coventry immediately and delete all his goals.
Bloody cheats!

Ironically, he actually tapped us up! Not sure if you saw it but there was an article recently because he was approached by Sunderland & someone else in L1. He text GC to ask him his opinion on which one to choose. GC gave him his advice and said if you're available the door is always open at Rovers.

At 5pm he called GC to say "Big man, I'm on my way down" to which GC had to reply you can't just do that, there are rules here

GC actually convinced a player by text message to turn down Sunderland for Bristol Rovers

Oh the life I'd live if I had the gift of the gab of GC

 

[Ciderup]

GC actually convinced a player by text message to turn down Sunderland for Bristol Rovers

How pissed must Clarke Harris have been?

 

[Gassy]

How pissed must Clarke Harris have been?

There isn’t enough alcohol in the world

 

[GEORGE]

Ironically, he actually tapped us up! Not sure if you saw it but there was an article recently because he was approached by Sunderland & someone else in L1. He text GC to ask him his opinion on which one to choose. GC gave him his advice and said if you're available the door is always open at Rovers.

At 5pm he called GC to say "Big man, I'm on my way down" to which GC had to reply you can't just do that, there are rules here

GC actually convinced a player by text message to turn down Sunderland for Bristol Rovers

Oh the life I'd live if I had the gift of the gab of GC

Think a lot to do with it was the huge signing on fee

 

[Kenneth E End]

How pissed must Clarke Harris have been?

He is actually a bloody player FWIW.

 

[SF_]

codaplenty , reckon Ashley Hunter can make the step up? Heard we're keen.

What type of player is he?

 

[Fedora Dale]

codaplenty , reckon Ashley Hunter can make the step up? Heard we're keen.

What type of player is he?

Always thought he was excellent whenever I've seen him - but perhaps he enjoys playing against Rochdale?

 

[SF_]

Always thought he was excellent whenever I've seen him - but perhaps he enjoys playing against Rochdale?

Seems to have a decent return in goals and assists from the left hand side if what I read was correct.

Rafferty has started a few recently, looks steady back up, no nonsense.

 

[Fedora Dale]

Seems to have a decent return in goals and assists from the left hand side if what I read was correct.

Rafferty has started a few recently, looks steady back up, no nonsense.

Pleased for Joe Rafferty - was always dependable for us, and often more than that.

 

[Kenneth E End]

Jordan Willis Cov to Luton.

 

[That Fat Centre Half]

Jordan Willis Cov to Luton.

Don’t know where it’s come from but where I was last night everyone was talking as if this were a done deal already.

 

[JJH]

Jordan Willis Cov to Luton.

We've been linked with him for years, again this week. I went to college with his brother as it happens and I asked him last time it surfaced about 2 years ago and he said it was the first he'd heard of it. Not a signing I'd be impressed with.

However, in this division I'd love Pompey away next year but if it means it increases our chances of signing Lowe and Clarke then I'm all for it. Keen admirers of both so say, as I imagine most of this division will be. If Kalas doesn't sign then I think Clarke will be the go to.

 

[CCFC_Charlie]

We've made our first signing of the window. Kyle McFadzean on a free from Burton. What that means for Willis, I'm not sure. He's been offered a new contract but I'm not sure he'd even be first choice next season now.

 

[ProfessorGreen]

Ryan Edwards is moving elsewhere despite us offering him a contract. Been linked with a few L1 clubs so far (Bristol Rovers and Portsmouth were a couple of them). Personally I'd be surprised if he gets a L1 contract starting week in week out.

The articles online about him being one of the stand out performers week in week out and a fan favourite simply aren't correct. The fans do like him as his is a great story overcoming cancer last season, but he's not been as strong since (understandably!).

Unfortunately he was a mainstay in central defence for a side which conceded 80 goals.

Young and has a bit of potential though if he can find his performance levels pre his time off. Good luck to him wherever he goes.

 

[Moomin]

Christy Pym and Hiram Boateng both look to be leaving us this summer as they are out of contact and expect they will turn up in L1.

Pym has been linked to Ipswich but that may just be BS. Good ‘keeper and still young.

Boateng is 23 so we’d get compensation...On his day he’s unplayable but he is inconsistent so not yet the finished article. In time though he’d become a great player.