Protect the player before, during and after the opportunity.

Every pathway should be understandable before anyone commits.

• Player voice: players and families are included in decisions and understand the purpose, risks and alternatives.
• Rights education: players receive clear information on professional standards, responsibilities and key agreement terms.
• Agent verification: representation services must be provided by appropriately licensed and registered professionals where required.
• Written scope: contracts should clearly describe services, fees, duration, responsibilities and how the agreement can end.
• Independent review: players should have an opportunity to obtain independent legal advice before signing important agreements.
• Fee transparency: commissions, expenses and payment responsibilities must be disclosed before commitment.
• Conflict disclosure: existing relationships, dual representation and financial interests must be declared and handled under applicable rules.
• Safeguarding: minors and vulnerable players require extra safeguards for consent, communication and welfare.

Protection is built around the player, the family and the future.

NEXTGEN is not designed around one trial, transfer or contract. For selected players, the aim is a long term plan that can bring together football development, education, welfare, travel, career guidance, independent professional support, commercial awareness and preparation for life after football.

How the Give Back framework also protects

The formal Give Back relationship is reciprocal and designed to protect the player and family as success grows. The player and family keep control of their career and wealth, while football agent representation remains separate.

The framework applies only to defined career linked success, not everything the family owns. The full agreement also includes a protected income level to avoid unnecessary pressure while the career is developing.

The agent creates opportunities. The player chooses the future.

When a NEXTGEN player chooses to work with a football agent, that representation remains a separate regulated relationship. NEXTGEN does not become the player’s football agent simply because it helps protect the player or monitors transparency around the relationship.

• The player remains the decision maker: an agent can advise, negotiate and create opportunities, but the final sporting choice belongs to the player.
• Material opportunities stay visible: genuine offers and approaches should be disclosed promptly. An agent should not secretly reject, hide or let an opportunity expire without the player’s authority.
• The career cannot be held hostage by a fee: an agent fee disagreement should be resolved separately and should not become a veto over a legitimate opportunity the player wants to pursue.
• Protect the player’s money: where lawful, NEXTGEN expects the agent to first seek payment of the agreed player side fee from the engaging club or another permitted entity. The player should only be asked to pay personally when necessary, without weakening the player’s salary or sporting package.
• No double payment: money paid on the player’s behalf toward an agreed agent fee should reduce the player’s corresponding liability.
• Conflicts must be visible: material financial interests, referral payments and any permitted dual representation arrangement must be disclosed and handled under the applicable rules.
• Freedom matters: one deal should not give an agent ownership of every future club, country, opportunity or decision.

Representation should protect the career, not control it.

NEXTGEN expects representation professionals to explain what they will do before, during and after a deal. Service should include communication, opportunity review, lawful negotiation support, fee transparency, conflict management, follow up and realistic career planning.

Player freedom & clean handover

The private NEXTGEN Player First framework is designed so a player is not trapped after one transaction. It includes workable exit rights, safeguards for urgent opportunities or serious breaches, a clean handover and no retaliation. Genuine agent work can still be protected without giving the agent broad control over the player’s future career.

Read how agents are expected to work with NEXTGEN players →

Protecting young people

The safety and wellbeing of young people is central to NEXTGEN. Our safeguarding approach includes:

• Child protection procedures
• Guardian consent
• Responsible travel and accommodation procedures
• Medical and emergency authorization
• Staff and volunteer conduct standards
• Safeguarding reporting procedures
• Protection of vulnerable beneficiaries

Extra safeguards where risk is higher.

Some parts of a football pathway need additional safeguards. NEXTGEN applies specific controls to:

For minors, a parent or legal guardian is normally involved unless a lawful safeguarding procedure requires a different route. Safeguarding concerns use a separate reporting channel and are shared only on a need to know basis.

Extra protection where children are involved

Applications involving minors should be handled with a parent or legal guardian. Football agent contact, representation and international movement of minors are subject to specific regulatory and legal restrictions. NEXTGEN does not treat a youth application as permission for an agent, club or third party to contact the child directly.

Safeguarding, representation and conduct concerns need a separate route.

Use this form for welfare, agent conduct, fees, conflicts, privacy or partner conduct concerns. Do not attach passports, medical files, banking details or full contracts to a public form.