One of the main off-pitch talking points of recent weeks has been Ivan Toney’s extended interview with Steven Bartlett’s popular and influential Diary of a CEO podcast.
The conversation between the Brentford and England star on his personal journey, recent challenges and career aspirations has been widely dissected by the media and Bees fans alike.
What’s notable is that the podcast coincided with Toney’s switch to a new agent – and his choice of the company to represent him sends a clear message about what now appears to be a likely departure from the Gtech Community Stadium in the coming months.
CAA Stellar was formed last year through the acquisition by Creative Artists Agency (CAA) of International Creative Management (ICM) Partners in a deal reportedly worth more than £600 million.
At the time, The Athletic predicted that the merger would “change the face of the agency industry.”
Along with global sporting icons, CAA also represents some of the biggest names in Hollywood, including Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg, as well as leading figures in music, fashion, publishing and popular culture.
Its CAA Stellar arm describes itself as “the world’s leading football agency.”
CAA Stellar Executive chairman Jonathan Barnett brokered Gareth Bale’s £85 million transfer from Spurs to Real Madrid in 2013, a record at a time, and set another record when client Jack Grealish moved from Aston Villa to Manchester City in 2021 for £100 million.
Ivan Toney’s England team-mates Ben Chilwell, Kalvin Phillips, Luke Shaw, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope and James Ward-Prowse are also represented by the super-agency.
Toney called joining CAA Stellar “a fresh beginning,” adding, “never underestimate the power you have to take your life in a new direction.”
CAA Stellar boss Jonathan Barnett said he was “very excited” to have signed our Number 17.
“He is a great talent and I am sure this is the beginning of a fantastic future for him,” he predicted.
Barnett is a figure who has not escaped controversy.
In 2006, he was banned for a year by the FA and fined a record £100,000 for his role in organising a secret meeting between Ashley Cole and representatives from Chelsea. He defended his actions, insisting “I did what I had to do for my client. I represented Ashley Cole.”
The Evening Standard described Barnett as “gregarious” and an “aggressive numbers man, who combines driving a hard bargain with a love of the high life.”
Toney’s choice of agent and appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast suggest that anyone hoping he would quietly serve out his eight-month ban for 232 breaches of the FA’s betting rules is likely to be disappointed.
With our talisman allowed to return to Jersey Road for training in mid-September while he serves out the remainder of his ban, he is unlikely to be far from the headlines as he plans his next move.
You can watch Ivan Toney on the Diary of a CEO podcast
Stuart Hughes is Bees United, Media Creation consultant