KIN Partners has strengthened its sports portfolio by adding Manchester City and German International footballer Ilkay Gündogan to its clientele.

The partnership will see the independent talent and commercial management agency assume responsibility for the player’s on and off-field interests. This includes intellectual property development through commercial partnerships, digital strategy, marketing and communications.

Gündogan commented: “KIN Partners have worked with the biggest names in football and I’m excited by the expertise and opportunities they can offer me, on and off the pitch, as I enter the next phase of my career.”

Additionally, the German international’s uncle and long term business advisor Ilhan Gündogan has also joined KIN Partners in a senior management role, as a result of the deal. The alliance will see the firm strengthen and expand its talent management network in Germany and Central Europe.

KIN Partners Managing Director, Simon Oliveira, said: “We are delighted to welcome Ilkay and Ilhan to the KIN Partners family in a collaboration that underlines our ambition to grow our sport business. 

“Ilkay is at the top of his game and playing week-in-week-out for one of the best teams in the world, he’s a huge asset to KIN Partners and we are grateful that he has put his trust in us to build and create opportunities for him moving forwards. 

“Ilhan’s high level experience and vision will allow us to expand KIN’s football representation business into new markets.”

Ilhan Gündogan, added: “I’m proud to be joining the KIN Partners Group and look forward to representing the company in Germany and across Central Europe. Simon Oliveira, Onur Yegenoglu and the wider KIN leadership team have a clear vision and ambitious expansion plans – I look forward to playing an important role in delivering those goals.”

Since its inception in 2013, KIN Partners has worked with the likes of David Beckham, Usain Bolt and Neymar Jr, with the sports and entertainment agency being the founding commercial arm for Beckham’s MLS franchise, Inter Miami.

Other organisations and athletes KIN has partnered with previously include Chelsea FC and OTRO, a new global digital platform and content studio that has brought together Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez, and Zinedine Zidane.

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