- Catalina Kim agent status surfaced in the public domain this week
- Damian Willoughby, ex-Chelsea commercial director sent her inappropriate texts
- She is 38, and worth at least $10 million
Catalina Kim agent status surfaced in the public domain this week following the sacking of Chelsea commercial director Damian Willoughby.
Willoughby sent Kim some somewhat suggestive texts last year. His actions allegedly jeopardized a planned multimillion-pound investment. This booked his exit from Premier League barely a month after Todd Boehly, Chelsea owner kicked him out.
Although they were sent before he began working for the club, such conduct is in stark contrast to the new ownership’s goals. An official statement by the club said it has an image to protect and maintain a conducive work environment.
Thus, such actions come in the way of the corporate culture. It is this saga that brought to the fore about Kim.
WHO IS CATALINA KIM AGENT?
Catalina Kim. Photo by C& P Sports
She hails from Seoul, South Korea and is 38 years old. She decided to pursue higher education in Italy, so she relocated there.
Kim joined the fashion industry in Milan after completing her studies. Afterwards, she worked as a consultant for the South Korean Embassy in London.
It’s here that she established a wide network of professional and personal connections.
Soon after Kim left the Embassy. That was the birth of Catalina Kim agent. An old business associate contacted her seeking assistance in negotiating a sponsorship arrangement in the English Premier League.
As a result, Kim broke the mould and become the first Asian female football agent in Europe. She then went on to start her sports agency C&P Sports.
It has offices in London, Frankfurt, and Seoul and employs a total of 28 people. La Liga, Serie A, Ligue 1, and the Bundesliga are C&P Sports’ clients.
They seek advice on financial viability, and the company has facilitated multimillion-pound transactions between Asian brands and European football clubs.
Kim tells We Are In The City she’s happy to have negotiated the longest sponsorship in history. It was between a Korean firm and the English premier league on behalf of Kumho Tyres of Tottenham Hotspur.
It was never in Kim’s wildest dreams that her life would turn out like this! She always thought about her future career in Europe as working in the consulting industry.
Despite a flourishing sports portfolio, Catalina Kim agent career isn’t an easy one. The Asian football agent points out that discrimination in European football is a huge impediment.
First, it’s your gender, then it’s your race, then it’s the culture of nepotism in football, she highlights challenges in the sector. Kim adds that expectations of outperforming other agents known within the circles are a major hurdle too.
While gender and race are universal challenges, she takes issue with nepotism and very high expectations in the sector. She wonders why someone should get different treatment because they are the offspring of affluent parents.
With her accomplishment, the football agent hopes to change the narrative of giving preferential treatment to some players. She says being affluent shouldn’t be the door path to entry to clubs and playing time with professional teams.
CATALINA KIM NET WORTH
One thing about Catalina Kim agent net worth is that it is in the north of $10 million. But, you must give it up to her for leading a quiet life away from the public eye that much of her wealth isn’t publicly documented.
As a matter of fact, not many would know about her were it not for the Chelsea commercial director saga. Being the only Asian female football agent in Europe surely came with its perks.
Much of her wealth portfolio is from her agency career which she wholeheartedly loves and wouldn’t trade it for anything.
CATALINA KIM CHELSEA
Damian Willoughby. Photo by Indian Express
Of course, Willoughby is the reason for her association with Chelsea – the first of two reasons. So, the former commercial director for the Stamford Bridge club sent inappropriate text messages to Kim.
This was in 2021 when not many knew about Catalina Kim agent dealings. His moves threatened to bring down a multi-million dollar football project. The Blues only confirmed about all these weeks after his hiring and had to let him go.
In addition, Kim’s sports agency made a shot at buying off Chelsea back in March after Roman Abramovich announced his intent to sell. Of course, prospective clients hired her to broker the deal.
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