Football agents' firm boosted by busy January

A UK firm of football agents said today it banked more than £600,000 (€878,000) following its best ever January transfer window.

First Artist worked on moves involving around 10 of its clients in Europe, including Nigel Quashie from Southampton to West Bromwich Albion and Dean Kiely from Charlton Athletic to Portsmouth.

The January transfer window has been in existence for three years and is one of two periods in the year when clubs are permitted to buy and sell players.

While First Artist has previously complained about the impact of the system on its business, the company described the last month as its strongest ever.

It did not provide a break-down of its earnings from each deal, which included transfers in France and Italy.

Finance director Richard Hughes said: “It was late coming through as these trading windows seem to be but it was a reasonably good period.

“January is only ever a tidying up period – not like the summer when there is a lot of business – but it was the best we have had.”

The company, whose other clients include Portsmouth manager Harry Redknapp and former Everton legend Andy Gray, was also behind the deal to get celebrity client Rula Lenska into the Big Brother house.

Shares on the FTSE index of companies rose 4% today.