Former Manchester United star shocks by using ChatGPT to negotiate contract

Former Manchester United youth talent, Demetri Mitchell, recently revealed that he used ChatGPT to negotiate his contract with his club Leyton Orient himself, instead of hiring an agent.

In a rare story in professional football, Demetri Mitchell, a former Manchester United prospect, disclosed that he used ChatGPT to handle contract negotiations with Leyton Orient without employing an agent. This bold approach not only helped Mitchell secure a financially better deal but also saved him a significant amount in agent fees.

The 28-year-old player was once highly anticipated at Old Trafford but failed to break into the first team and subsequently moved through several clubs such as Hearts, Blackpool, Hibernian, and Exeter City. However, it was his transfer to Leyton Orient last summer that brought his name back into the spotlight when Mitchell admitted he used artificial intelligence to negotiate his entire contract.

On the podcast From My Left, Mitchell shared: “The club sent me an offer, and I started asking ChatGPT how to negotiate and what to say in the email. I told it my previous salary, living costs in London, my wife and kids moving down, then asked what a reasonable salary request would be. In the end, I got a better deal without paying agent fees.”

Usually, players pay about 5% commission to agents for each contract. But for Mitchell, he only spent £15 per month (over 500,000 VND) on the ChatGPT Plus subscription. “ChatGPT is the best agent I’ve ever had,” Mitchell joked. “The 5% agent fee is quite a lot, while ChatGPT costs just £15 a month. I saved money and still got a contract I’m happy with.”

The former Man Utd star also candidly spoke about the harsh financial reality of lower league football in England. He said: “People think players are all wealthy, but the reality is very different. A League One player earns about £3,000 a week, pays 45% tax, 5% agent fees, leaving only around £1,500. With housing, car expenses, and family relocation costs, that amount isn’t very comfortable.”

Mitchell believes using technology like ChatGPT helps players “gain more control and better understand their own value”. He emphasized that football careers are short, and players should equip themselves with knowledge and financial management skills as essential survival tools.

Demetri Mitchell’s story is sparking discussions among professional players. As AI becomes increasingly intelligent, this could mark the beginning of an era where players negotiate contracts themselves without agents, a new trend in modern football.