Footballer Iheanacho Loses N120m Deal Over Agents Row

MANCHESTER City striker Kelechi Iheanacho has missed out on an endorsement deal with American sportswear giants Nike that would have seen him net a contract worth £200,000 (approximately N120 million).  The kit manufacturers pulled out of the deal because of uncertainty over the identity of his bonafide intermediary, with American-based First Eleven Management and Stellar Group claiming to be his representative at the same time.

“When Kelechi turned 19, Nike were in the United Kingdom to negotiate a fresh contract with him that would have paid him over 100,000 pounds and another 100,000 pounds in kits and products, “ a Nigeria Football Federation insider said. “Nike set up a meeting but he didn’t attend, so they had to pull out of the deal when they discovered that he breached the contract with his American agent. “ While Iheanacho has claimed that he was introduced to Stellar Group by City teammate Patrick Roberts, who is on loan at Celtic, it is known that some English-based Nigerian agents were the ones that convinced him to tear up his contract with First Eleven Management.