Pini Zahavi’s Power Play: How the Super Agent Shapes European Soccer in 2025
Calendar icon Updated 10 Oct 17:48

Pini Zahavi’s Power Play: How the Super Agent Shapes European Soccer in 2025

Juan Pablo Aravena Juan Pablo Aravena

The name of Pini Zahavi is familiar to every soccer fan who follows the transfer and rumour mill. One of the world’s true super agents, Zahavi holds a powerful position, with deep involvement in some of the biggest deals in world soccer. 

But how much do we know about Zahavi, and how much does he influence the current transfer landscape in an era where super agents wield more power than ever?

First Steps in the Transfer Business… As a Journalist?

Zahavi’s connection to soccer began not as an agent but as a journalist, when he negotiated the transfer of Israeli defender Avi Cohen from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Liverpool in 1979. Thanks to the extensive list of contacts he built in a multi-decade career in journalism, it didn’t take long for Zahavi to find success as an agent. 

He changed career paths for good in 1998, and by the early 2000s, he was already on the way to become a prominent figure in the soccer agency world. He started out by negotiating transfers for Israeli players to bigger European leagues, but quickly moved on to better, bigger deals after establishing himself in England. 

His extensive network of contacts allowed him to be surrounded by elite talent.

Rio Ferdinand and His Status as a New “Super Agent” in the Premier League

The first big deal negotiated by Zahavi was the transfer of Rio Ferdinand. Zahavi handled the move that took the star centre-back from West Ham to Leeds United for £18 million in 2000 (around CA$40.5 million at the time) and then his £30 million (roughly CA$72 million) transfer from Leeds to Manchester United in 2002. 

As part of the deal, Zahavi was himself paid £1.13 million (about CA$2.71 million). That was only the beginning of his work with Manchester United, as his close friendship with Sir Alex Ferguson allowed him to stay involved in the club’s transfer business.

As such, Zahavi was involved in the deal that brought Juan Sebastián Verón to Old Trafford, as well as Jaap Stam’s departure to Lazio. The agent also played a big role in Roman Abramovich’s arrival at Chelsea, and he was a central figure of the club’s transfer business in the first years of the Russian’s reign at Stamford Bridge. 

With direct ties to two of the biggest – and richest – clubs in the Premier League, Zahavi’s name was everywhere. He was one of the first people who could be considered “super agents” – even before that term had entered common use.

Zahavi’s Influence in Other Big Clubs in Europe

Zahavi may be based in London with contacts all over the country, but his scope of influence extends well beyond the Premier League. He has direct links with Barcelona, where he currently represents their manager, Hansi Flick, and one of their best players, Robert Lewandowski. Additionally, he is close friends with president Joan Laporta, so it’s not uncommon for Zahavi’s clients to be linked to the Blaugrana club every summer.

The most recent case was Marcus Rashford. The English winger was pushing for a move to Barça in the summer after being frozen out by manager Ruben Amorim at Manchester United. 

Given that Zahavi has excellent relationships with both clubs, his role in the negotiations was pivotal in securing the forward’s transfer to Camp Nou. Rashford has enjoyed an excellent start to life with the Spanish giants.

Zahavi also represents top players from other major European leagues and is regularly involved in negotiations with elite clubs. He oversaw talks for David Alaba’s contract extension at Bayern Munich, which ultimately paved the way for the Austrian defender’s move to Real Madrid. 

The agent was also central to Neymar’s record-breaking transfer from Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain a few years ago. It’s believed that Zahavi was paid between €12 million and €25 million (around CA$17.5-36.5 million) for that move.

The Neymar transfer was a work of art that showed how big Zahavi’s influence can be. He was in the middle of a battle between two European heavyweights, but in the end, he got his client what he was wishing for. Just like he did in the past with other players.

Who Are Some of the Top Players in Zahavi’s Agency?

Zahavi’s agency, Gol International, has clients in several of the world’s top leagues. According to Transfermarkt, some of the biggest names on his roster include Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Christopher Nkunku (AC Milan), Leroy Sané (Galatasaray), Gabri Veiga (FC Porto), Marcin Bulka (NEOM SC), Nadiem Amiri (Mainz), Robert Lewandowski (FC Barcelona), Aleksandar Mitrović (Al-Rayyan SC), and Yannick Carrasco (Al-Shabab SC), just to name a few.

According to the same source, Zahavi represents at least 10 players with a market value of €16 million (approximately CA$25.94 million) or more.

His links with some of the top players in the world allow him to shape up the transfer market every summer. There’s no top league in the world that doesn’t deal with the presence of Zahavi, and that’s a level of reach that only a handful of agents can claim.

Does Zahavi Have Any Other Ventures Outside of Soccer?

Zahavi is a huge businessman in Israel and owns Charlton, a media company that has the rights to nearly every major sport in the country, including the Israeli Premier League and the English Premier League. 

He also holds a stake in HAZ Racing Team, one of the top motorsport teams in Argentina, so his influences expand way beyond the soccer world. However, he’s first and foremost a soccer agent, and a very good one at that.

To this day, he remains one of the biggest and most influential agents in the game. With elite players under contract in his agency, Zahavi’s influence in the world of transfers is palpable and undeniable across all major leagues.

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