British soccer agency Stellar Group has expanded into the United States by partnering with soccer agency Global Premier Management. With this new partnership, the American agency will now become Stellar USA.
According to agent and Global Premier Management founder, Patrick McCabe “It is not an acquisition. It’s really a partnership/merger.” McCabe, who represents upwards of 60 soccer players both in the MLS and in Europe, will become president of Stellar USA and be based in Boston. He is partnering with Stellar “to provide more access and opportunities for the U.S. soccer players he recruits and to help Stellar transfer its clients into MLS.
The London-based Stellar Group was founded by Jonathan Barnett, who also serves as the agency’s chairman. As an agent, he is known for getting his clients big deals. Real Madrid winger Gareth Bale, a Barnett client, signed a six-year deal valued at $194.8 million last fall. By partnering with Global, he hopes to bring his expertise and dealmaking style to the United States.
Capitalizing on the global nature of the game of soccer, Stellar Group also has offices in Liverpool, Amsterdam, Lisbon, Brussels, Madrid and Munich and represents around 200 soccer players. Prior to starting Stellar USA in Boston, the agency opened a NFL player representation firm in Atlanta and brought on NFL agent Reggie Johnson to run it. There are also plans to venture into NBA representation.