{"id":70410,"date":"2026-11-06T11:23:43","date_gmt":"2026-11-06T10:23:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/?p=70410"},"modified":"2026-11-06T11:23:43","modified_gmt":"2026-11-06T10:23:43","slug":"kia-joorabchian","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/blog\/kia-joorabchian","title":{"rendered":"Kia Joorabchian, the intermediary behind Tevez, Coutinho and David Luiz"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kia Joorabchian is an Iranian-British businessman who has become one of the most influential intermediaries in football. A former president of Media Sports Investments (MSI), he was at the heart of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano\u2019s arrival at West Ham United F.C. in 2006, and later of transfers<\/a> such as Philippe Coutinho\u2019s move to FC Barcelona in 2018. Yet he is not a licensed agent. He presents himself as an adviser to players and clubs.<\/p>\n

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Nicknamed a \u201csuper-agent\u201d by the English press, Kia Joorabchian built his career outside the traditional routes. He never played football, never sat an agent exam<\/a> and made his fortune in finance before turning his attention to the game.<\/p>\n

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His career is particularly instructive for candidates preparing for the FIFA agent exam. The Tevez affair exposed the excesses of TPO (third-party ownership) and contributed to the tightening of the rules, now set out in the RSTP (Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players)<\/a>. His status as an unlicensed adviser also illustrates the line drawn by the FFAR (FIFA Football Agent Regulations)<\/a> between influence and official representation.<\/p>\n

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Who is Kia Joorabchian? From finance to football<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Kiavash Joorabchian, known as Kia Joorabchian, was born on 14 July 1971 in Tehran. His family left Iran after the 1979 revolution, lived in the United Kingdom and Canada, and then settled in England when he was around 16. He holds Iranian, British and Canadian nationality.<\/p>\n

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After studying chemistry and management at Queen Mary College in London, which he left in his second year, he first worked for his father, a car dealer, and then as a trader on the International Petroleum Exchange in London. In the late 1990s, he founded the investment company American Capital in New York, which acquired 85% of the Russian daily newspaper Kommersant in 1999.<\/p>\n

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This investor profile explains his approach to football. For Kia Joorabchian, a player is not only a client to be represented but also an asset whose value can be developed, which led him to take an early interest in footballers\u2019 economic rights.<\/p>\n

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MSI, Corinthians and the Tevez-Mascherano affair<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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The Corinthians gamble (2004\u20132007)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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In 2004, Kia Joorabchian created Media Sports Investments (MSI) and signed a ten-year partnership with Corinthians, one of Brazil\u2019s biggest clubs. MSI provided approximately \u20ac28 million ($35 million), including approximately \u20ac16 million ($20 million) to clear the club\u2019s debts, in exchange for 51% of its future profits.<\/p>\n

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The fund financed high-profile signings, including Argentina\u2019s Carlos Tevez, bought from Boca Juniors for approximately \u20ac18 million ($22 million), followed by Javier Mascherano. Corinthians won the Brazilian championship in 2005. However, the relationship quickly deteriorated: the club broke with MSI in 2007 and ended the year with relegation. In Brazil, proceedings were brought against Kia Joorabchian before being dropped in 2014.<\/p>\n

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West Ham, the Premier League and Sheffield United<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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In August 2006, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano joined West Ham. Their economic rights did not belong to the club but to companies linked to MSI, which Kia Joorabchian continued to represent even though he had stepped down as the fund\u2019s president in June 2006.<\/p>\n

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In April 2007, the Premier League fined West Ham a record \u20ac8 million (\u00a35.5 million). The club had not declared these agreements, which gave third parties decisive influence over the players\u2019 futures. No personal sanction was imposed on Kia Joorabchian.<\/p>\n

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\"Kia<\/figure>\n

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Saved notably by Tevez\u2019s goals, West Ham stayed up, while Sheffield United F.C. were relegated. The Yorkshire club took legal action and, in 2009, obtained a settlement of approximately \u20ac22 million (\u00a320 million), paid by West Ham over five years. Tevez then joined Manchester United F.C. in 2007 on a two-year loan, followed by Manchester City F.C. in 2009.<\/p>\n

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Timeline of the Tevez-Mascherano affair<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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From the creation of MSI to the worldwide ban on TPO, the affair spans more than ten years. The table below traces its main stages and their consequences for clubs and for the regulations alike.<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Date<\/strong><\/th>\nEvent<\/strong><\/th>\nConsequence<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2004<\/td>\nCreation of MSI and partnership with Corinthians<\/td>\nArrival of Tevez, then Mascherano, in Brazil<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
August 2006<\/td>\nTevez and Mascherano join West Ham<\/td>\nEconomic rights held by third-party companies<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
April 2007<\/td>\nWest Ham fined \u20ac8 million (\u00a35.5 million)<\/td>\nThird-party agreements not declared to the Premier League<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2009<\/td>\nSettlement between West Ham and Sheffield United<\/td>\nApproximately \u20ac22 million (\u00a320 million) paid over five years<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
1 May 2015<\/td>\nArticle 18ter of the RSTP comes into force<\/td>\nWorldwide ban on third-party ownership of economic rights<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

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The main transfers linked to Kia Joorabchian<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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After the West Ham affair, Kia Joorabchian changed his model. He no longer financed entire clubs but advised players, mainly Brazilian and South American, on their transfers to Europe. He relied on a network built in Brazil and on close relationships with several executives at English clubs.<\/p>\n

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Notable transfers linked to Kia Joorabchian<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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This summary covers the main transfers Kia Joorabchian has been associated with since 2008, from Robinho to Willian. It shows the central place of Brazilian players in his business and the weight of English clubs:<\/p>\n

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\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Year<\/strong><\/th>\nPlayer<\/strong><\/th>\nDeal<\/strong><\/th>\nReported fee<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
2008<\/td>\nRobinho<\/td>\nReal Madrid CF to Manchester City<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac41 million (\u00a332.5 million)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2010<\/td>\nRamires<\/td>\nBenfica to Chelsea F.C.<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac22 million<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2011<\/td>\nDavid Luiz<\/td>\nBenfica to Chelsea<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac25 million (\u00a321 million) (+ Nemanja Mati\u0107 sent to Benfica)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nWillian<\/td>\nAnzhi Makhachkala to Chelsea<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac35 million (\u00a330 million)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2013<\/td>\nMarquinhos<\/td>\nAS Roma to Paris Saint-Germain F.C.<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac31.5 million (\u00a327 million)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2018<\/td>\nPhilippe Coutinho<\/td>\nLiverpool F.C. to FC Barcelona<\/td>\n\u20ac120 million, up to \u20ac160 million with bonuses<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2019<\/td>\nDavid Luiz<\/td>\nChelsea to Arsenal F.C.<\/td>\napproximately \u20ac9 million (\u00a38 million)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
2020<\/td>\nWillian<\/td>\nChelsea to Arsenal<\/td>\nfree transfer<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n

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Philippe Coutinho\u2019s transfer remains his most spectacular deal. In January 2018, the Brazilian midfielder left Liverpool for FC Barcelona in one of the most expensive transfers in history.<\/p>\n

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\"Kia<\/figure>\n

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The Ramires case, for its part, shows Kia Joorabchian\u2019s investor logic: Jazzy Limited, a company run by Joorabchian, reportedly acquired 50% of Ramires\u2019 economic rights in June 2010 for \u20ac6 million; Chelsea then signed the player in August 2010 for approximately \u20ac22 million. This type of transaction is now prohibited.<\/p>\n

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Kia Joorabchian and Arsenal, a relationship under scrutiny<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Kia Joorabchian makes no secret of his attachment to Arsenal. His links with the club run notably through Edu, a former Gunners midfielder and one of his first clients, who became Arsenal\u2019s technical director and then sporting director<\/a> between 2019 and 2024.<\/p>\n

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During this period, Arsenal signed several players linked to Kia Joorabchian, including David Luiz in 2019, followed by Willian and C\u00e9dric Soares in 2020. These signings drew strong criticism, notably from former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher, who saw them as evidence of the intermediary\u2019s excessive influence over the club\u2019s recruitment. Kia Joorabchian replied that sporting decisions were a matter for the manager, Mikel Arteta.<\/p>\n

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This pattern is not unique to Arsenal. Kia Joorabchian was a football adviser to Newcastle United F.C. in 2010 and an official adviser to Reading F.C. and its owner in 2022, while his alleged influence over Everton F.C.\u2019s recruitment prompted protest banners from supporters at Goodison Park the same year.<\/p>\n

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2026 transfer window, Bruno Guimar\u00e3es and Botafogo<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Kia Joorabchian remained very active in 2026, both in the transfer market and in club takeovers.<\/p>\n

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Bruno Guimar\u00e3es, from Newcastle to Arsenal<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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In July 2026, the English press reported that Bruno Guimar\u00e3es had enlisted Kia Joorabchian to help secure his move from Newcastle to Arsenal, alongside his long-standing representative, Alexis Malavolta, and Giuliano Bertolucci. The transfer was completed over the summer for approximately \u20ac88 million (\u00a375 million), with a four-year contract plus a one-year option. The exact role of each intermediary in the negotiations has not been made public.<\/p>\n

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Botafogo, a rejected takeover bid<\/strong><\/h3>\n

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In June 2026, Kia Joorabchian appeared alongside John Textor and the Greek shipowner Evangelos Marinakis, owner of Olympiacos and Nottingham Forest F.C., in a bid to take over the SAF of Botafogo, the company that owns the Brazilian club. The club\u2019s advisory board unanimously rejected the bid, preferring the offer from the fund GDA Luma Capital.<\/p>\n

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What the Joorabchian case teaches aspiring FIFA agents<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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Kia Joorabchian\u2019s career touches on several topics on the FIFA agent exam syllabus. Above all, it helps explain why certain rules exist.<\/p>\n

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Several lessons stand out for candidates:<\/p>\n

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  1. Third-party ownership of players is prohibited.<\/strong> The MSI model, based on acquiring players\u2019 economic rights, has no longer been possible since 2015. The Tevez affair is one of the cases that led to this ban.<\/li>\n

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  2. Only a licensed agent can represent a client.<\/strong> Under the FFAR, the licence is granted to an individual. An unlicensed adviser may maintain relationships with clubs but may not provide agent services. It is the same distinction found in agencies such as Universal Twenty Two<\/a>.<\/li>\n

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  3. Conflicts of interest are regulated.<\/strong> Advising a club while supporting players who may be transferred to it raises a conflict of interest. The FFAR strictly limits multiple representation in the same transaction.<\/li>\n

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  4. Transparency is an obligation.<\/strong> West Ham were sanctioned for failing to declare agreements with third parties. Today, international transfers go through TMS (Transfer Matching System)<\/a>, and licensed agents must declare their services on the FIFA Agent Platform.<\/li>\n

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    The Joorabchian case shows that a lack of transparency can cost a club millions and permanently change the regulation of an entire sector.<\/p>\n

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    Kia Joorabchian, in summary<\/strong><\/h2>\n

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    Kia Joorabchian is a figure apart in football: a financier turned intermediary, without an agent\u2019s licence but with considerable influence over the transfer market. From Corinthians to Arsenal, he has built a unique network between Brazil and England.<\/p>\n

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    His career is also a lesson in regulation. The Tevez affair contributed to the ban on third-party ownership of players, and his status as an adviser is a reminder that only a licence allows someone to represent a player officially. For aspiring agents, mastering the RSTP and the FFAR means understanding the rules that emerged from these cases, ahead of the next exam session expe<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Who is Kia Joorabchian? From the Tevez affair at West Ham to Coutinho\u2019s move, the career, clients and methods of a key intermediary in the world of soccer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":70366,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[48],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-70410","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-agent"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70410","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=70410"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70410\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":70426,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/70410\/revisions\/70426"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/70366"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=70410"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=70410"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/fifa.sportsagentinstitute.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=70410"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}