Folarin Balogun Joins Klutch Sports, Making Him LeBron’s First Soccer Client

Folarin Balogun just became the first soccer player to sign directly with Klutch Sports Group. That’s the agency run by Rich Paul, who also happens to be LeBron James’ longtime agent and business partner. The USMNT striker’s deal was confirmed by ESPN and comes right after his breakout World Cup performance in 2026.

Balogun scored two goals against Paraguay and another against Bosnia and Herzegovina during the tournament. The USMNT lost to Belgium 4-1 in the Round of 16, but Balogun’s individual play turned heads. He’s 25 years old and just finished his first World Cup. That kind of exposure does things for your marketability.

Rich Paul told the Hollywood Reporter that Balogun’s “relentless ambition and cultural impact represent the standard of excellence we hope to bring to the sport.” That’s classic Paul — he likes clients who carry weight beyond the field. Balogun now shares representation with James, Anthony Davis, Jalen Hurts, and A’ja Wilson. It’s a short list with big names.

Klutch already dipped into soccer in 2024 by buying the European agency ROOF, which represents American players like Malik Tillman and Gio Reyna. But this is different. Balogun signed directly with Klutch, not through a subsidiary. That matters for his brand, especially with Premier League rumors starting to circle.

That red card controversy nobody wants to forget

Balogun’s World Cup run had a weird twist. He got a red card in the Round of 32 match, which meant an automatic suspension. Then that suspension got overturned. And not through the normal process.

An NBC Sports report, citing Martyn Ziegler of The Times of London, said Mohammad al-Kamali from the United Arab Emirates bypassed the standard three-member panel and 17 other committee members to clear Balogun to play. FIFA’s normal democratic safeguards were ignored entirely.

That led to speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump called FIFA President Gianni Infantino directly to influence the decision. The team has not confirmed anything. But the timing and the way the suspension got wiped out raised eyebrows across the soccer world.

Balogun apologized to fans on social media after the Belgium loss, calling the early exit disappointing but remaining optimistic about where American soccer is headed. He’s not wrong — the sport is growing fast here. And now he’s got one of the most powerful agencies in sports behind him.