In this modern era of soccer, there are few more powerful figures than agents. Often vilified, not all agents put their clients’ success first.
Instead, it can be a business that enables agents to make a quick buck after unearthing a hidden gem. However, one of the agents that goes against that principle and has helped shape the modern game as we know it today is Jorge Mendes.
The Portuguese has played a role in some of the biggest transfers of the modern era, earning him the label of “Super Agent.”
🚨🟡🔵 BREAKING: Éderson to Fenerbahçe, here we go! Verbal agreement in place for Brazilian GK to join Fener.
Fee around €13/14m to Man City for Éderson and as also personal terms are agreed with his agent Jorge Mendes and director Devin Özek.
Up next: Donnarumma and City. 👀 pic.twitter.com/3QsxXvk7f7
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 1, 2025
His prowess in representing stars extends beyond soccer, as he’s also helped triple-jump champion Patricia Mamona and cyclist Joao Almeida reach the peaks of their respective sports. But how is Mendes’ presence continuing to shape the soccer world in this modern day?
First Dealings
Mendes made his start as a soccer agent in 1996 by working on a deal to bring Nuno Espirito Santo from Vitoria to Deportivo de La Coruna. Little did he know that this would be the first of many business dealings with the goalkeeper-turned-coach.
After gaining a reputation for his professionalism during that deal, he would be trusted to oversee Hugo Viana’s move from Sporting Lisbon to Newcastle United in 2002.
Mendes would quickly become the trusted advisor to leading clubs and players in Portugal, and his ear to the ground enabled him to spot stars such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Ricardo Quaresma before they signed their first professional deals.
Breakthrough Deal
The shape of soccer changed in the summer of 2004, when Chelsea brought Jose Mourinho to the Premier League. At the heart of the deal was Mendes, who replaced Mourinho’s former agent to get the deal over the line.
However, the relationship between Mendes and Chelsea didn’t end there, as the Blues would pay the agent to act for the player and club to get deals over the line. That was a straightforward task, since Portuguese players such as Ricardo Carvalho, Tiago, Maniche, and Paulo Ferreira were all represented by the super agent.
🚨 Lamine Yamal’s agent Jorge Mendes: “Lamine will win the Ballon d’Or.
“He’s so happy and he’s gonna SIGN new deal at the club soon”. ✍🏻🏁 pic.twitter.com/lieoZvXrbk
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 22, 2025
The deals would change the landscape of English soccer, as Chelsea became the dominant force after winning back-to-back Premier League titles in 2004-05 and 2005-06.
Cristiano Ronaldo
When Mendes discovered a young Cristiano Ronaldo, he likely couldn’t have predicted the trajectory in which his career would change. The agent would be the driving force behind the Portuguese’s move to Manchester United in 2003 before overseeing the then-world-record move to Real Madrid in 2009.
As part of the deal, Mendes would reportedly make £4 million. Mendes’ involvement in United’s success between 2006 and 2009 would continue following Ronaldo’s arrival, as he would also play the leading role in the club’s pursuits of Nani and Anderson from Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto, respectively.
🚨🇵🇹 Ancelotti: “Cristiano Ronaldo will reach 1,000 goals, for sure!”, told @diarioas.
“But when he does, he shouldn’t forget to invite me to the celebration of that incredible record”. 😃🎉 pic.twitter.com/eVXw34qHAG
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 13, 2025
However, not all players represented by Mendes would be success stories, and that became evident after Bebé’s move to Manchester United in 2010. Sir Alex Ferguson later revealed that he had never seen the player in action, and the forward would struggle to adjust to life in the Premier League.
Despite this, Mendes would still be rewarded for his part in the deal, gaining a reported €3.6 million of the €9 million transfer fee.
Changing the Playing Field
Mendes would become even more prominent in the world of soccer in the 2010s, beginning with a close relationship with the owners of Wolverhampton Wanderers, Fosun International. After a deal was struck between the agent and the club, Wolves signed 12 players within six weeks during the 2016 window.
The club would later prove to be a shop window for some of Mendes’ clients, with Nelson Semedo, Pedro Neto, Ruben Neves, and Diogo Jota all passing through Molineux on their way to bigger deals. It wasn’t only players, either, as Mendes would strike the deal to bring Nuno Espirito Santo to the club as head coach.
Jorge #Mendes announces to Golden Boy 2024: “Lamine #Yamal will extend his contract with #Barça”. #transfers #FCB pic.twitter.com/8cmHY8YU4I
— Nicolò Schira (@NicoSchira) December 16, 2024
A similar approach would later be taken by Swansea City, as Mendes was tasked with finding players for Carlos Carvalhal in January 2018. This led to the shock signing of Renato Sanches from Bayern Munich. However, this would later be a decision that would backfire, as the club was relegated to the Championship in May 2018.
Continued Dominance in Soccer
Mendes continues to represent some of the world’s leading soccer players, overseeing big-money summer transfer moves for stars such as João Félix and Darwin Núñez to Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, respectively.
The super agent’s dominance on the global game shows no sign of stopping, as it was recently revealed that he has gained the services of Lamine Yamal.
The Barcelona teenager is already widely regarded as one of the world’s best players, and if he were to move clubs, it would likely require a world-record bid to persuade the La Liga champions to part with their prized asset.
