About us
The agency was founded in 1986 and from its inception represented the England national football team for a decade and developed the commercial structure known as “Team England” that still exists today. First Artist was involved in the formation of the Premier League and was instrumental in assisting Sky launch this in 1992. We were also the commercial agents for the England Cricket Team for 10 years as well as the Welsh Rugby Team.
On the pitch First Artist manages a roster of players spanning The Premier League, Scottish Premier League, The Championship and across The Football League. In addition to player representation the agency is trusted and used by numerous Football Clubs to act on their behalf both in player transfers and commercial opportunities. Furthermore First Artist hold Match Licences from FIFA and UEFA to stage official matches domestically and internationally, tours and pre season training camps.
With a global network of established industry contacts and a dedicated ‘Player Management’ team First Artist clients are assured of the highest possible level of service and guidance, maximising earning potential and delivering clear career progression.
Our Team
Jon is one of the world’s most well-respected football agents, having been at the forefront of the industry for more than 30 years.
Jon launched the world-famous First Artist agency in 1986, with the England football team and Diego Maradona as his first clients and has gone on to guide the careers of many of the nation’s most celebrated players and managers.
He created the initial concept of 'Team England', which is still used now by the FA, and introduced product placement to football.
Jon has masterminded many of the world’s biggest transfers and, alongside Sky Sports, was part of the team which helped create the Premier League.
Jon was also the first commercial representative of the England Cricket team and the first promoter of all the North American sports in the UK, including the major early NFL games at Wembley. His autobiography, The Deal, was published in September 2016 by Little Brown / Hachette
One of the most experienced agents in world football, Phil was a former co-owner of First Artist and is widely considered one of the most well-connected people in the industry.
In a career spanning more than thirty years, Phil has been involved in countless multi-million pound transfers and remains one of the most-trusted names in the sport, by players, managers and owners alike. Phil prides himself in knowing everything about his clients and their needs, and works closely with them in all aspects of their development.
Aside from football player representation, Phil is highly experienced in all forms of football consultancy and also specialises in other services such as arranging friendlies, tournaments and pre-season tours. Phil started his career in the music industry and was Head of Promotion of several agencies, before launching his own label, Double Impact, where he worked regularly with the likes of Simon Cowell and Pete Waterman.