English FA begin investigating Nigerian agent Emeka Obasi over his dealings with Man City

ENGLISH Football Association (FA) officials have begun investigating Nigerian-born agent Emeka Obasi over his role in the transfer of winger Jadon Sancho to Premiership side Manchester City in March 2015.

According to allegations made in documents published yesterday by German publication, Der Spiegel, Mr Obasi made a payment of £200,000 to Jadon Sancho’s agent when the England winger was 14 years old. It was alleged that Manchester City paid Mr Obasi when they signed Sancho, now at Borussia Dortmund, from Watford in March 2015.

Fifa transfer rules forbid young players from been represented by an agent until the year they turn 16 years old. London-born Sancho, 18, joined City as a 14-year-old, when the Premier League champions paid £66,000 in compensation to Watford.

However, Manchester City has denied the allegations, saying: “The attempt to damage the club’s reputation is organised and clear. We will not be providing any comment on out of context materials purported to have been hacked or stolen from City Football Group and Manchester City personnel and associated people.”

FA rules state that clubs are not permitted to offer financial inducements to a player under 16. Der Spiegel, which has published a series of revelations in recent months, including allegations Manchester City deceived Uefa over financial fair play rules, claims the club wrote a letter to Sancho’s father which outlined how much they were willing to pay the player once he turned professional.

It also alleges that a Manchester City lawyer was alarmed that the letter could be deemed as a financial offer and therefore be breaking the rules about offering inducements. Der Spiegel alleges City paid £200,000 to Mr Obasi as part of a scouting contract to find players in Central and South America.

Sancho never made a first-team appearance for Manchester City before moving to German side Dortmund for £8m in August 2017. He has been one of the star players for the Bundesliga leaders this season, with the club describing him as one of the most exciting players in Europe when it announced he had signed a new long-term contract in October.

In April 2017, Liverpool were fined £100,000 by the English Premier League and handed a two-year ban. This was because the club signed academy players from other clubs, including offering inducements to a 12-year-old academy player at Stoke City.