Global network all in one place

Carlton Cole amassed over 50 goals and almost 300 Premier League appearances in a career that included spells at Chelsea, Charlton Athletic, Aston Villa and West Ham United.

But now he's moved into the transfer market and specifically finding the best moves the next wave of young talent at West Ham as their Loans Manager.

Building a network of transfer market decision-makers is a difficult challenge, especially for those like Cole who are new to the role and the business side of the game.

But instead of travelling all over the world to connect with clubs who may not even be viable options for West Ham's fringe and academy players, he can find over 800 clubs in one place through TransferRoom.

That is the size of the growing global network on football's only transfer marketplace, and he saw over 200 of those at one of TransferRoom's in-person events: the TransferRoom Deal Day in Madrid.

Cole explains in the video below: "The benefits are coming to one place and then talking to a load of people that I've never met before or might not have known that I'm the Loans Manager.

"Everybody's been forthcoming. Everybody knows where they're at. There's been no nonsense and you can just get the job done quickly and efficiently in one place and create relationships."

Cole and West Ham's transfer operations team are benefitting from a wealth of data on TransferRoom, which supports the data-led approach to transfer business for the Premier League club.

The real-time market intelligence on TransferRoom includes player availability, clubs' squad and financial requirements, Expected Transfer Value, resale value, performance data and comparisons of player stats across any league.

"The loan strategy is we're using a lot of data, and a lot of software: TransferRoom comes under that banner," Cole adds. "We look at every department with this kind of outlook. 

"I look at what I need, what I'm doing and what I'm putting out there and data and information is key. So, TransferRoom gives me that platform to be able to talk to people that I probably won't be able to contact and, plus, it would cost a lot of money to go and visit these football clubs around the world.

"Now, if you're going to go and get these opportunities, you'll have to spend an arm and a leg. And now for me, I'm looking at it and thinking, thank you TransferRoom."

Find out how you can join West Ham United and 800+ clubs on TransferRoom.

Check out our latest TransferRoom events and register for our next one at transferroom.com/summits.