Hundreds of football executives, sporting directors, and agents have convened in Madrid for TransferRoom's annual summit, an event described as the "transfer equivalent of speed dating." The gathering, held at the Marriott Auditorium Hotel, brings together over 300 professionals from more than 40 countries representing clubs such as Manchester United, Arsenal, and Ajax.
The four-day event, which began with pre-event networking, features a structured format where participants engage in 15-minute meetings at numbered desks. These sessions are arranged through an app that schedules interactions, allowing attendees to pitch players and negotiate deals.
"The room is set out like a GCSE exam," commented one Premier League executive. "You have about 16 slots per day, and you go through the attendees and request to meet them, the system fills up all of your spots as you accept or are accepted." A giant digital clock counts down the time for each meeting, with bells signaling when it is time to move to the next.
Membership packages for TransferRoom range from approximately £20,000 for basic access to £35,000 for a premium package, which includes the ability to pitch unlimited players, respond to unlimited pitches, and access advanced analytics.
Founder Jonas Ankersen stated that the platform has facilitated over 10,000 deals since its inception in 2017. "This number represents a football industry that is becoming much more connected and transparent, much more efficient and more data-driven. It’s basically 10,000 careers that moved forward," Ankersen said.
The summit has been credited with originating significant player transfers. Notably, Viktor Gyokeres' move from Coventry City to Sporting Lisbon in 2023 began when Sporting's director of football, Hugo Viana, contacted Coventry through TransferRoom. Similarly, Antoine Semenyo's transfer from Bristol City to Bournemouth in 2023, Daryl Dike's move from Orlando City to West Bromwich Albion in 2022, and Carlos Alcaraz's transfer from Racing Club to Southampton for £12.5 million in 2023 all had their genesis on the platform.
While the formal meetings are central to the event, some agents also use the opportunity for informal networking in hotel corridors. Ex-player Kevin Prince-Boateng, now head of Rookie & Champ agency, described the event as "speed dating with transparency," highlighting the direct access to decision-makers.