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.
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
- Education and personal development continuity
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.
You may report without identifying yourself: your name and contact details are optional. Leaving them blank may limit NEXTGEN’s ability to verify information, contact you safely or explain any follow up.
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.
Long term financial protection
Any formal Give Back arrangement is handled separately from player selection, safeguarding and football representation. It applies only to agreed career related success after the adult player and family receive the relevant information and independent advice.
The player and family keep control of their career and wealth. Any detailed calculation, contribution term or legal obligation must be set out in separate specific to the player documentation.
Independent review: before any formal financial obligation begins, the adult player receives a review tailored to their situation and the opportunity to obtain independent legal, tax and financial advice. The public website is a summary and does not replace that private advice or documentation.
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: the agent may advise and negotiate, but the final sporting choice belongs to the player.
- Material opportunities stay visible: genuine offers and approaches should be disclosed promptly and must not be hidden or allowed to expire without the player’s authority.
- Conflicts must be visible: material financial interests, referral payments and any permitted dual representation must be disclosed and handled under applicable rules.
- Freedom matters: one transaction should not give an agent broad control over the player’s future clubs, countries, opportunities or decisions.
- Player benefit must be written: where permitted and negotiated, any signing payment, transfer related bonus or agreed player benefit must be stated clearly in the player’s contract. It is not automatic.
- Transfer compensation stays separate: a payment between clubs does not give NEXTGEN, an agent or another third party ownership of the player’s economic rights. Any lawful player payment requires its own clear contractual basis.
NEXTGEN as Player Protection Contact: this role requires the player’s or guardian’s written authorisation. NEXTGEN may help receive and explain material information and coordinate independent support, but it does not become the player’s lawyer, football agent, regulator or emergency service and does not create agent commission for NEXTGEN.
Read the detailed standards for agents working with NEXTGEN players →
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.
The exact representation terms, notice periods, fee mechanics, transaction protections and legal remedies remain private player specific documentation and must be adapted to the relevant jurisdiction and football rules. NEXTGEN’s public standards do not replace football regulations or independent legal advice.