Third Party Player Contracts; How They Work in MLS, NASL, and USL
When it comes to interviews, Lisa Eisenmenger is one of my favorite American soccer writers. She has just completed a Q & A with FIFA-licensed player agent Mike Wheeler. In this interview, Wheeler explains third-party contracts and how they work in regard to MLS, the NASL, and USL. If you didn’t know it already, MLS has different rules than the NASL or USL or for that matter the rest of the world when it comes to player contracts. Wheeler explains how those MLS contracts are different and how third party contracts can affect both players and teams in NASL and USL.
This article may be of particular interest to those who follow Division II and III soccer in the U.S. and know of Traffic Sports’ involvement, particularly with the new provisionally-sanctioned NASL.
If you would like to read this thorough explanation of the wheeling and dealing of players, agents, teams and organizations like Traffic Sports, then make sure to check out this four part series.
Player agent Mike Wheeler explains third-party ownership in MLS (Part 1)
Player agent Mike Wheeler explains third-party ownership in MLS (Part 2)
Mike Wheeler explains player contracts: development compensation (Part 3 of 4)
Mike Wheeler on USL/NASL contracts, conflicts in player agency (Part 4 of 4)
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Lisa Eisenmenger has great interviews.
This is very interesting. Thanks for posting this body of work. I haven’t read it all yet, but plan to very soon.
Very interesting series. I think it further strengthens my opinion regarding the agent system the NFL, MLB, etc. have in place being better then the soccer one. Having a third party owning and controlling your rights is a tricky business it seems. Thanks for putting this out here for us to read BQ.
I agree with Strikers Return. Soccer generally employs a slave labor method where there are direct conflicts of interests, and young, immature players can be left out to dry.
Even Wheeler confirms that FIFA is more focused on ensuring the local team gets funded for training, than making sure the player is getting what they need.
The emphasis is clearly on the value of the team’s activities on development rather than the player itself.