Ex-Man Utd star uses ChatGPT as agent to negotiate contract with new club with finances behind deal explained

Mitchell had brief stints at Hearts, Blackpool, Hibs, and Exeter City before landing at Leyton Orient this summer. But it’s his unconventional approach to contract talks that’s now turning heads across football.

Instead of relying on a traditional football agent to secure a lucrative deal, Mitchell decided to tap into technology. The U17 Euros winner turned to ChatGPT, asking the AI to guide him through the negotiation process with his new club. The result? A two-year deal that’s more financially rewarding than expected, with no agent fees to be paid.

Mitchell explained in a candid interview on the From My Left podcast how he employed ChatGPT to craft the perfect message and provide insight into what he was entitled to.

"Orient sent me an offer and then I started using ChatGPT, asking them how to negotiate the deal and what to say in it," he began. "I asked it, ‘This is what I was on last season. I’m moving to London, so what is the cost of living? My missus is going to move down with me with my little one’. I did think I was worth a little bit more. But you don’t want to be like, ‘I think I should be earning X amount’. And then because I didn’t use an agent, I get that as a signing-on fee."

What really caught attention, however, is how Mitchell avoided the typical 5% agent fee, which can sometimes be a hefty sum. Instead, by using ChatGPT’s premium service for just £15 a month, he managed to secure a better signing-on fee, putting more money directly into his pocket. The footballer believes ChatGPT has done more for him than any agent ever could.

“ChatGPT has been my best agent to date," he endorsed. "Agent fees are 5 per cent. ChatGPT is £15 per month for premium. Footballers’ finances are a lot different from what most people realise.”

Despite the high-profile image of footballers, Mitchell was quick to demystify the supposed glamour of the game, especially for those playing outside the Premier League. The Leyton Orient star opened up about the financial struggles that many EFL players face, particularly those in League One or below, where short-term contracts and low wages can create a fragile financial situation.

"People have this thing about footballers being paid so well, and we are very fortunate," he said. "But there's a big difference between somebody earning two or three grand a week that's a professional footballer and somebody earning two or three grand a week that's a doctor.

"The difference is the doctor is guaranteed pretty much [that amount] until he's 65, whereas players in the EFL from League One downwards are on one or two-year contracts. Let's say you're getting three grand a week - you're getting taxed 45 per cent, and then you've got five percent agent fees. You've only seen half of that, so you've got £1,500 that you're getting in a week. Don't get me wrong it's a good amount of money, but when you've got a mortgage and a car, and then your missus can't work because she's living away from Manchester, your expenses are very high."

Mitchell also spoke candidly about the need for financial caution in such a volatile career.

"When that contract is finished and you've got the expenses of four grand a month, you're in a bit of a pickle. You have to be careful with your money and your spending," he warned.

"It's not as lucrative and glamorous as it seems. You've got to think about life after football. It's not a career you're going to be in at 65 – it's a career that you're in for the next two years guaranteed if you're on a two-year contract."

With AI becoming more advanced, could we see more footballers skipping agents in favour of self-negotiation? As Mitchell’s story shows, it’s not just about getting more money—it’s about staying informed, cutting out intermediaries, and maximising control over personal and financial decisions.