Initially a sports journalist in his native Israel, Pini Zahavi built up a vast network of contacts in the football world, which enabled him to ultimately become one of the game’s most powerful agents.
He was reportedly involved in the transfer of defender Avi Cohen from Maccabi Tel Aviv to Liverpool way back in 1979. His links helped him transition into a useful middleman as other Israeli players made the move to England over the following two decades. These names included the likes of Ronny Rosenthal and Eyal Berkovic.
However, it wasn’t until the late 1990s that Zahavi was finally a full-time operative and started to work with more clients beyond those with whom he had existing connections.
Zahavi’s big Premier League break
His work with Berkovic, who went on to play for six different clubs in the UK, helped Zahavi land his first big break in the Premier League. That came when he started representing the midfielder’s West Ham teammate, Rio Ferdinand.
Already seen as one of the brightest young English talents, Ferdinand’s career exploded with the help of his agent, who brokered large money moves to Leeds in 2000 and then Man United in 2002.
When he controversially swapped Elland Road for Old Trafford in a British-record £30m deal, Ferdinand also became the world’s most expensive defender for the second time. It was an agreement that propelled Zahavi into the big leagues of the game. With his client going on to excel in Manchester, it wouldn’t take long before more Premier League stars were queuing up to work with him.
A key figure during the Abramovich years at Chelsea
Like many of the most successful agents, Zahavi has always been quick to capitalise on a business opportunity. He must have sensed the change that was coming to the English game when he worked with Roman Abramovich on his acquisition of Chelsea in 2003.
Abramovich knew Zahavi from several years earlier, and with the oligarch a total novice to the football world, it was only natural that he’d lean on the Israeli’s knowledge and connections. The pair worked together on a number of deals in the weeks and months after the Chelsea takeover. The broker made an estimated £5m that Summer alone by helping bring fresh talent to Stamford Bridge.
Portsmouth links
By the mid-2000s, Zahavi was established as having a major influence on Premier League transfers, and he’d soon begin a strong association with another English club.
He played a key role in the takeover of Portsmouth in 2006 by businessman Alexandre Gaydamak. He also shaped Avram Grant’s managerial career in England, which saw the former Israel boss take charge of both Chelsea and Pompey, before a later stint at West Ham.
Zahavi’s ability to influence everything from ownership changes to managerial appointments highlighted how he was capable of going well beyond the traditional role of a football agent.
Controversial third-party deals
His reputation as something of a groundbreaker continued when he acted as broker in the controversial third-party deals that took Argentina internationals Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano to West Ham. Despite the transfer, investment companies connected to Zahavi and fellow agent Kia Joorabchian retained the economic rights to the players.
That opened a web of legal challenges over the following years, with Premier League rules at the time forbidding third-party ownership of players. West Ham eventually paid £20m in compensation to settle a case brought by Sheffield United, who claimed they were unfairly relegated as a result of Tevez’s goals for the Hammers.
Zahavi escaped punishment, but he was later banned for two months by the English FA for a false declaration in another agreement. That cemented his status as somebody willing to operate in the grey areas on occasion.
Who are Zahavi’s current clients?
Despite turning 70 in 2025, Zahavi remains active. He’s the owner of the Gol International agency, which has an impressive list of clientele. However, his influence on Chelsea has decreased significantly in recent years, particularly since Abramovich was forced to sell the club in 2022.
Gol International currently represents the likes of Robert Lewandowski, Jonathan Tah, and Leroy Sané. It’s also handled a number of transfers involving Saudi Arabian clubs in recent years, with Serbian striker Aleksandar Mitrović and Spanish youngster Gabri Veiga among their other clients.
