With more than 60 transfers, Ekstraklasa clubs have been some of the most successful on TransferRoom when it comes to deal-making in recent years, and that number is set to escalate with every team in Poland’s top flight now on the platform for the long term.

Time to maximise transfer profits

Club decision-makers in Poland have traditionally been limited to local networks of contacts for signings and sales, making it harder to attract top-quality players to strengthen the league and to command larger transfer fees to invest back into the growth of the domestic competition. 

A number of Ekstraklasa clubs have addressed that challenge head-on over the last few years, joining TransferRoom to broaden their contact books and get direct access to their counterparts at more than 650 clubs in over 60 countries.

The addition of Trusted Agents to the platform has also helped Polish clubs to both reduce the reliance on intermediaries and cut through the noise in the transfer market by getting first-hand, reliable information.

That has opened up a host of new player pathways: Miedz Legnica, for example, used TransferRoom to recruit Chile international Angelo Henriquez (pictured below) from Fortaleza in Brazil and bring in Santiago Nevada on loan from CF America in Mexico, following their promotion to the Ekstraklasa in the summer of 2021-22.

Scandinavia, central Europe and Greece have also proven fruitful markets for Polish clubs on TransferRoom, and all 18 top-flight clubs will now feel the benefits of a wider recruitment pool.

“As a league, our aim is to support the growth and development of every club, and this deal with TransferRoom will allow us to create more interest for their players and generate more international revenue while boosting their recruitment potential and building a stronger, higher-quality competition,” explains Marcin Stefański, Chief Operating Officer of the Ekstraklasa.

“It creates a more level playing field as all of our clubs gain access to the same tools so they can be more efficient in their recruitment. They will be able to identify and sign more players from different markets while showcasing their best talents to a greater number of clubs.

“TransferRoom can help our clubs develop and maximise their revenue in the transfer market by showcasing their talents and building contacts.”

Latest league on TransferRoom

The Ekstraklasa joins the top two divisions in Denmark, Norway and Mexico, and North America’s Major League Soccer in making a long-term, league-wide commitment to TransferRoom.

League-wide deals have proven to boost international revenue and create a buoyant domestic transfer market. For example, Danish football has enjoyed a sustained period of growth to move clear of Sweden as Scandinavia's top footballing nation.

“Being on TransferRoom has allowed our clubs to reach new markets,” Stefański adds. “Our clubs typically rely on their existing networks of contacts and do business in Poland and neighbouring countries.

“But on TransferRoom, they’ve done deals with clubs in countries outside Europe. Now senior executives at our clubs can go straight to other decision-makers without the need for intermediaries, whether that’s in Europe’s major leagues, smaller markets in Europe that are not so easily available or global markets. It’s also been easier to recruit from smaller markets outside of our region.”

Getting deals done quickly

Access to TransferRoom also means access to in-person and virtual Summits and Deal Days, where fast-paced meetings regularly result in done deals. 

Like Stratos Svarnas, who moved on loan from AEK Athens to Rakow Czestochowa after executives from the two clubs met at a face-to-face event in the Spring of 2022.

Robert Graf, Sporting Director of Rakow, says: “You can do a lot of networking and, ultimately, selling and buying. You have everybody there. You take three days of your week, but it saves a lot of time in future. 

“TransferRoom gives you a broader view of the market, of what is possible, and what is not possible. Especially with the addition of the agencies as well. It saves you time.”

Rakow's Robert Graf (centre) at a TransferRoom Summit

Rakow were beaten to the 2021-22 Ekstraklasa title by Lech Poznan, which have used TransferRoom to attract more buyers for their talent and to recruit more efficiently and smartly.

President Piotr Rutkowski says: “It helps us promote a player and make him available to a Swedish or Norwegian or Portuguese club who might normally think that Lech Poznan is too expensive. It is easier to trade non-obvious players on TransferRoom.

“We are able to get quick and correct information and this gives a lot of value in a world where information is crucial and it is often false in the transfer market.”

Tomasz Baldys, Sporting Director, Cracovia, adds: “What I appreciate in TransferRoom is direct contact with the clubs… Direct contact is always direct contact, we can call or text each other and get feedback as soon as possible about the player we are interested in or they are interested in. We don’t have to use intermediaries, that is very good. It’s how it should be done and we can save a lot of money like this.”