You First lands in Belgium with A-Group

The Belgian agency joins You First, expanding its presence in the European football market.

Madrid. April 11, 2024. The football representation company A-Group, based in Antwerp, joins You First, the global agency specialized in talent representation in sports and entertainment, and brand services.

Currently, You First is the number one agency in Spain by market value and is ranked in the Top 10 of the most important sports agencies in the world, according to Forbes, standing out as one of the leading football representation companies. “Undoubtedly, being able to have an office in Belgium and the Netherlands allows us to establish another strategic point, opening a new market with great opportunities for our players," says Pelayo García, You First International Football Director. This expansion is seen as a key development in leveraging the European football market´s potential.

A-Group, boasting over eight years of experience under the leadership of Tom de Mul and Yama Sharifi, manages an extensive client portfolio in the major professional leagues of Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy, among others.

A-Group Director, Tom de Mul, is convinced that with the arrival of You First “we are able to open even more markets and create more opportunities for the players and coaches that we represent”. New era but with the essence of the old times, as confirmed by Yama Sharifi, Director at A-Group: “on a daily contact everything will be the same for our clients, but this is a great step forward to achieve even greater things for them then before”.

The acquisition of a majority stake in Grass Is Green less than two years ago, a top-tier agency in the German and Austrian football markets, underscores You First's ambitious growth trajectory. With the integration of A-Group, You First now oversees a portfolio exceeding 500 football players, solidifying its leadership in the Central European football market.

“This agreement is key in our company's strategy to continue being global leaders in talent representation," Juan Aísa, CEO of You First, recalls.