Ali barat
Ali Barat (born May 1980) is an Iranian-born football agent and entrepreneur. He is a FIFA-licensed agent and the founder of the football agency Epic Sports, which represents several professional players in Europe.
Career
Epic Sports
Barat founded Epic Sports, a football agency licensed by FIFA.[1] The agency has been involved in several high-profile transfers across European football, including Moisés Caicedo’s record £115 million move from Brighton & Hove Albion to Chelsea in 2023 and Nicolas Jackson’s transfer from Villarreal to Chelsea.[2]
According to multiple outlets, Epic Sports was involved in some of the most expensive deals of the 2023 summer transfer window.[3] Sports media frequently describe Barat as a “super agent.”[1][2][4]
In September 2025, RMC Sport described Barat as “one of the most influential agents of the moment” in European football.[5]
According to another interview, Epic Sports handled €414.5 million worth of transactions during the 2025 summer window, including Dean Huijsen’s move to Real Madrid, Nicolas Jackson’s transfer to Bayern Munich, Xavi Simons’ transfer to Tottenham Hotspur, and deals involving Noni Madueke and Piero Hincapié.[6]
Notable transfers
- Moisés Caicedo → Chelsea (from Brighton & Hove Albion, 2023) – £115m
- Nicolas Jackson → Chelsea (from Villarreal, 2023)
- Kendry Páez → Chelsea (agreement in 2023, effective 2025, from Independiente del Valle)
- Mahmoud Dahoud → Brighton (from Borussia Dortmund, 2023)
- Sardar Azmoun → AS Roma (2023)
- Romelu Lukaku → Napoli (from Chelsea, 2024) – €45m
- Conor Gallagher → Atlético Madrid (from Chelsea, 2024) – £34m
- Ian Maatsen → Aston Villa (from Borussia Dortmund, 2024)
- Dean Huijsen → Real Madrid (from Bournemouth, 2025) – £50m
- Noni Madueke → Arsenal (from Chelsea, 2025) – £52m including bonuses
- Soumaïla Coulibaly → Strasbourg (from Borussia Dortmund, 2025)
- Nicolas Jackson → Bayern Munich (from Chelsea, 2025)
- Xavi Simons → Tottenham Hotspur (from RB Leipzig, 2025)
Awards
In 2023, Barat received the Golden Boy Award for Best Agent,[7] becoming, at 43 years old, the youngest recipient in the award’s history.[8] He was also nominated for Best Agent at the 2023 Dubai Globe Soccer Awards.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/who-ali-barat-super-agent-32106365 | Who is Ali Barat? 'Super agent' who could be key to Man United's next signing }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 3 September 2025 | Accessed: 3 September 2025. }}
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://www.nogomania.com/article/Ali-Barat-Europe-s-new-Super-agent-challenging-Jorge-Mendes-reign | Ali Barat: Europe's new 'Super agent' challenging Jorge Mendes' reign }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 6 August 2025 | Accessed: 6 August 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://www.corrieredellosport.it/news/calcio/calcio-estero/premier-league/2023/12/06-118354875/golden_boy_caicedo_e_jackson_si_complimentano_con_l_agente_ali_barat | Golden Boy, Caicedo e Jackson si complimentano con l'agente Ali Barat }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 8 August 2025 | Accessed: 8 August 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://as.com/futbol/internacional/nuevo-superagente-en-europa-n/ | Nuevo superagente en Europa }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 8 August 2025 | Accessed: 8 August 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://rmcsport.bfmtv.com/football/pas-de-place-pour-les-regrets-l-agent-ali-barat-revient-sur-l-histoire-tourmentee-entre-xavi-simons-et-le-psg_AV-202509190601.html | Ali Barat: no room for regrets – the agent reflects on Xavi Simons’ story with PSG }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 20 September 2025 | Accessed: 20 September 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://[INSERT_SOURCE_URL] | [https://[INSERT_SOURCE_URL] Ali Barat: “A transfer is not just a transaction, behind it there is a career and a family”] }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 20 September 2025 | Accessed: 20 September 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://www.footmercato.net/a6493969415288437809-golden-boy-awards-2023-une-nouvelle-soiree-magique-en-plein-coeur-de-turin | Golden Boy Awards 2023: a new magical evening in the heart of Turin! }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 6 August 2025 | Accessed: 6 August 2025. }}
- ↑ {{#if: | {{{author}}} }} {{#if: https://www.tuttosport.com/news/calcio/golden-boy/2025/09/06-142986642/huijsen_riscriver_la_storia_come_beckenbauer_la_cessione_juve_e_giuntoli_troppo_rispetto_per/2 | Huijsen will rewrite history like Beckenbauer }} {{#if: | {{{publisher}}}. }} {{#if: 8 September 2025 | Accessed: 8 September 2025. }}