Footballer Ditches Agent For ChatGPT Contract Negotiation
A New Kind of Agent
In an unprecedented move for professional football, former Manchester United youth player Demetri Mitchell has revealed he used the AI platform ChatGPT to negotiate his recent transfer. The 28-year-old, who joined League One side Leyton Orient this summer, bypassed traditional representation, hailing the software as his "best agent to date."
Mitchell's career began at the prestigious Old Trafford academy, where he made one league appearance for Manchester United. He later had spells with various clubs, including Hearts, Blackpool, Hibernian, and most recently, Exeter City.
How ChatGPT Negotiated the Deal
Speaking on the 'From My Left' podcast, Mitchell explained how he leveraged AI after receiving an offer from Leyton Orient. "They sent me an offer, and I started using ChatGPT, asking it how to negotiate a deal, and what to say in it," he said.
He provided the AI with key personal and financial details to build his case. "This is what I was on last season, moving to London, cost of living, missus is gonna move down with me, my little one," Mitchell recalled. He noted the AI helped him frame his request for a higher valuation without sounding overly demanding.
By handling the negotiation himself, Mitchell also secured the agent's fee as a signing-on bonus. He reasoned that even if a human agent had secured a slightly better weekly wage, the commission would have negated the difference. "The agent might have got me a couple hundred more, and then the percent that I would have to pay them, the difference, is going to be eaten up anyway."
A Critique of Traditional Football Agents
Mitchell's decision was also fueled by a broader dissatisfaction with the state of player representation, especially in the lower leagues. He categorized agents into three types.
The first is a salaried employee at a large agency. The second type works for a big agency focusing only on promising young prospects, quickly losing interest once a player is no longer considered a rising star. The third, he described as independent and "money-hungry," pushing players into any move for a quick commission.
"When you're in the lower leagues, it's difficult to get a good agent, because that's all you've got to work with," he concluded.
Mitchell's Career and Future
An experienced player, Demetri Mitchell has represented England at multiple youth levels, from the U16s to the U20s. He was also named in the preliminary 60-man squad for Jamaica ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup. Since his AI-assisted move, Mitchell has made eight appearances for his new club at Brisbane Road as he looks to make his mark.
