CAA Base has established itself as a leading force in European football representation. Following CAA Sports’ acquisition of Base Soccer, the agency now represents stars such as Cole Palmer, Moisés Caicedo and Carlo Ancelotti. From career management and contract negotiations to the regulatory challenges surrounding the FFAR, discover how one of modern football’s most influential organisations operates.
Last updated: 05/06/2026
CAA Base has established itself in recent years as one of the leading forces in football representation worldwide. Formed through the merger of two entities, the agency is now among the most influential organisations in the sector and has become a benchmark within the industry.
With around 630 active clients, a portfolio valued at nearly €1.3 billion (£1.1 billion) and a presence across five continents, CAA Base is far more than a traditional football agency. It represents a genuine career management model in modern football and perfectly illustrates the evolution of the sports agent profession.
Let us now take a closer look at what CAA Base really is, how the agency operates and which players it represents.
CAA Base is the football division of Creative Artists Agency Sports, itself the sports branch of Creative Artists Agency (CAA), one of the world’s largest entertainment and sports agencies. Based in London, CAA Base specialises in representing professional footballers, primarily in the Premier League and Europe’s major leagues.
The agency is not limited to player representation. It also supports managers, sporting directors and media consultants in managing their careers.
CAA Base has built its identity around a clear promise: “Commitment to Honesty”. This commitment to honesty and transparency is designed to build long-term trust with the clients it represents.
In 1997, Leon Angel, one of the first agents licensed by the The Football Association (FA) in the United Kingdom, founded Base Soccer Agency in London. His objective was to structure professional player representation as a genuine business rather than a simple negotiation service.
From its earliest years, the agency established itself in the Premier League and built strong relationships with English clubs and players.
During the 2000s and 2010s, the explosion of television rights and the globalisation of the transfer market transformed the industry, pushing Base Soccer to adapt its model:
On the eve of its acquisition by CAA, Base Soccer represented more than 300 international players, coaches and managers, including several regular starters for the England national team.
In July 2019, CAA Sports acquired Base Soccer Agency as part of its expansion strategy in global football.
The transition from Base Soccer to CAA Base marked a new stage for the English organisation. The agency retained its London identity and strong Premier League roots while gaining access to the global resources of CAA Sports:
CAA Base operates as a global representation agency that supports footballers both on and off the pitch.
The agency offers a comprehensive approach to client management, ranging from career planning to legal support.
CAA Base’s role extends far beyond negotiating employment contracts.
Its model differs from that of an independent agent through the scale of its resources and its ability to manage complex cases involving multiple countries, clubs and regulatory frameworks simultaneously.
The agency provides clients with support across every aspect of their career:
CAA Base plans transfers, advises players on club decisions and develops long-term strategies tailored to each athlete’s objectives throughout their career.
The agency negotiates every contractual detail, from fixed salaries and performance bonuses to release clauses and extension options.
CAA Base continuously monitors FIFA and national federation regulations, manages disputes and ensures every transaction complies with current legal frameworks.
The agency supports clients with wealth structuring, tax optimisation and long-term income management throughout a professional career.
CAA Base oversees commercial partnerships, social media presence and media relations to strengthen an athlete’s personal brand beyond on-pitch performances.
During transfers, CAA Base assists with housing searches, relocation and family support, allowing players to focus entirely on their profession.
CAA Base is one of the few major agencies to have invested heavily in representing professional women footballers. As early as the 2010s, the agency represented several England internationals, including Fran Kirby and Georgia Stanway, both of whom took part in the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup with England.
This positioning reflects the growth of women’s football and distinguishes the agency from many competitors that were slower to invest in the sector.
Leon Angel remains Head of Football and Registered Intermediary for the agency. A longstanding figure in Premier League player representation, he is one of the few sports agents whose name is associated with building an institution rather than simply managing a portfolio of clients.
Frank Trimboli, co-director of the agency, was nominated for the “Agent of the Year” award at the Globe Soccer Awards in 2025, a distinction recognising some of the most influential professionals in world football.
CAA Base represents around 630 active clients, nearly 210 of whom compete in major leagues. The agency’s portfolio includes Premier League and Championship players, as well as international players competing across several European and South American leagues.
Among the agency’s most prominent clients are several current Premier League stars.
Cole Palmer, Chelsea winger and England international, is one of the leading names in the CAA Base portfolio. Signed by Chelsea in 2023 for around €45 million (£40 million) from Manchester City F.C., he quickly established himself as one of the Premier League’s most productive players.
Eberechi Eze, now an Arsenal F.C. player and England international, is another major profile represented by the agency. After emerging at Crystal Palace F.C., he joined the North London club in a transfer worth around €70 million (£60 million). The agency supported him throughout his progression to the highest level.
Moisés Caicedo, Chelsea’s Ecuadorian midfielder, is one of the most expensive players ever transferred in his position. His move from Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. to Chelsea F.C. in 2023 was completed for around €115 million (£100 million). The deal illustrates the agency’s ability to manage negotiations on a very large scale.
CAA Base also stands out through its representation of managers and sporting directors, a strategic area within modern professional football.
Carlo Ancelotti is represented by CAA Base. The current Brazil national team manager and former Real Madrid CF coach is widely regarded as one of the greatest managers in football history. He notably holds the record for the highest number of victories in European club competitions, with 116 wins. His presence within the agency’s portfolio reflects CAA Base’s ambitions in elite-level managerial representation.
After moving into management following a top-level playing career, Frank Lampard managed Derby County F.C., Chelsea F.C. and Everton F.C..
Since November 2024, he has served as manager of Coventry City F.C. in the Championship. He guided the club to promotion to the Premier League for the 2026–27 season, Coventry’s first return to the top flight since 2001.
Represented by CAA Base, Frank Lampard illustrates the agency’s ability to support complex career transitions, from iconic player to professional manager.
The implementation of the FFAR (FIFA Football Agent Regulations) in January 2023 significantly changed how the representation sector operates. Adopted by FIFA after several years of consultation, the regulations aim to increase market transparency and better regulate conflicts of interest.
The FFAR notably introduced caps on the commissions agents may receive during transactions:
CAA Base is among the agencies involved in legal challenges against certain FFAR provisions, particularly those relating to commission caps.
This opposition, led by several major players within the sector, highlights the tensions between FIFA’s regulatory ambitions and the economic interests of representation agencies.
For candidates preparing for the FIFA agent exam, this controversy provides a concrete illustration of the FFAR’s impact on market practices and demonstrates why a strong understanding of these regulations has become essential.
The coexistence of CAA Base and CAA Stellar within the same CAA Sports group often creates confusion. However, the two entities remain separate organisations with different histories, positioning and client portfolios.
| Criterion | CAA Base | CAA Stellar |
|---|---|---|
| Origin | Base Soccer Agency (London, 1997) | Stellar Group (London, 1990s) |
| Founders | Leon Angel | Jonathan Barnett, David Manasseh |
| Acquisition by CAA | 2019 | 2020 |
| Main Geographical Focus | Premier League, England | Major European leagues |
| Client Base | Men’s football, English women’s football, managers | European men’s football, managers |
| Approach | Global representation, “Commitment to Honesty” | “Total management” |
CAA Base and CAA Stellar operate under the same parent company, CAA Sports, but remain separate agencies with their own teams, corporate cultures and representation strategies.
CAA Base has successfully adapted to the evolution of professional football over several decades. Founded in 1997 by a single FA-licensed agent, the agency gradually evolved into a division of a global entertainment and sports group while preserving its London identity.
CAA Base’s involvement in discussions surrounding the FFAR also demonstrates the growing influence of major agencies within the modern football economy. Today, these organisations do far more than negotiate contracts. They play a central role in the transfer market and in the broader structure of professional football.
