Earlier this week, SportsBusiness Journal announced that U.K.-based James Grant Group was acquired by Metric Capital Partners, an international investment firm. James Grant will retain 50 percent ownership of the agency, which represents clients across sports, entertainment, music, television and literary.
“I think it’s a unique opportunity for any group to break into the U.S. market, specifically in the soccer space, at this point,” said Lyle Yorks, Global Managing Director for James Grant Sports. “The World Cup really showed the potential and continued growth in the sport. We’re really excited about what the future holds for the group.”
James Grant Sports represents a number of international and domestic soccer players, including the Seattle Sounders Clint Dempsey and Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore, both members of the U.S. Men’s National Team.
Yorks added that the next “logical” move for the sports business is to set up an office in Los Angeles in 2015, with the possibility of an office in New York as well. The certified FIFA sports agent said that the sports agency will aim to continue to grow its soccer business domestically in Q1.