Behind the Curtain: My Time at the TransferRoom Summit
Seeing the Game from a Different Angle
This week I got a glimpse of the side of football most players never see — the business behind the game. The TransferRoom Summit came to Estoril, and for two days the quiet coastal town turned into the center of the football transfer world. Over 600 club executives, agents, and directors from across the globe gathered to network, negotiate, and plan for the next big moves that shape world football.
As a player, it’s easy to think football is all about what happens on the pitch — training, matches, goals, and results. But walking into the Summit, I quickly realized that so much of what happens off the pitch defines what happens on it. Every contract, every transfer, every trial — it all starts in rooms like these, where people in suits shake hands over decisions that can change players’ lives.
The Business of Football
What struck me most was the scale and energy. Tables lined the ballroom floor, each one representing a club or agency, with laptops open, presentations ready, and meetings booked back-to-back every 15 minutes. You could feel the intensity — just like a match day, but instead of tackles and goals, this was strategy, negotiation, and relationship building.
I had the chance to meet and listen to executives from top European clubs and agencies who work with players I’ve only ever watched on TV. Hearing them discuss player development, scouting networks, and recruitment strategies was eye-opening. It made me realize how many people are involved in helping players reach their dreams — and how competitive that world is, just like the game itself.
Learning About Life After Football
One of the biggest takeaways for me was understanding that football doesn’t last forever. Whether your career ends at 18, 28, or 38, there’s a whole world waiting beyond your playing days. Seeing so many former players now working as scouts, agents, or club executives was inspiring.
It showed me that football doesn’t have to end when you stop stepping onto the pitch — it just changes shape. The lessons, discipline, and mindset you build as a player can carry into so many other roles. I left the Summit thinking not just about how to grow as a player, but how to prepare for life after football.
That perspective hit me hard. When you’re young, all you think about is training, matches, and making it to the next level. But seeing the business side reminded me how important it is to keep learning, to understand how the game works beyond the pitch, and to start building skills that can help long after your final whistle.
Gratitude and Motivation
Before wrapping up, I want to give a huge thank you to the incredible team at TransferRoom for allowing me to be part of the Summit. It was an unforgettable experience to see how the football world connects and operates at the highest level. A special shoutout to Stuart Whittall, Dave Clark, and Luke Taylor for making me feel so welcome and for the opportunity to learn from the best in the business.
Leaving the Summit, I felt motivated. I want to keep learning not just how to perform on the pitch, but also how this world operates off it. Because understanding both sides of football — the game and the business — helps you appreciate the journey even more.
The Bigger Picture
This week in Estoril showed me that dreams in football come in many forms. Some chase them with boots on, others with laptops open. But everyone here shares the same passion — to be part of the game we love.
And for me, this was a reminder that no matter where the path leads — whether it’s playing, coaching, or working behind the scenes — the goal stays the same: to live and breathe football in every way possible.