(CNN)They’re the wheelers and dealers, the people that make football transfers happen — and they’re in a lucrative business.
A report released by world governing body FIFA has revealed that intermediaries or agents have been paid a total of $548 million so far this year across 3,844 international transfers. Since 2013, agents have picked up a total of $2.14 billion.
The report analyzed data from all global football transfers in the past five years, comparing instances when players and clubs had used an agent for a move to take place.
