League One Player Reveals He Used ChatGPT to Negotiate Contract
Demetri Mitchell, a midfielder for Leyton Orient, revealed today he utilized the AI platform ChatGPT to negotiate his recent move to the League One club, effectively acting as his own agent.
Mitchell, 28, joined Leyton Orient this summer on a free transfer after leaving Exeter City, and chose to forgo traditional agent representation. He explained on the From My Left podcast that he used ChatGPT to formulate his negotiation strategy, factoring in personal expenses like the cost of living in London and relocation for his family. “They [Leyton Orient] sent me an offer, and I started using ChatGPT, asking it how to negotiate a deal, and what to say in it,” Mitchell stated. He also noted the financial benefit of avoiding agent fees, suggesting an agent might have secured a slightly higher initial offer, but the savings from commission would likely offset any difference.
The player also voiced broader concerns about representation within professional football, particularly for players in lower leagues. He categorized agents into three types – those working for larger agencies focused on promising young talent, salaried agency employees, and independent agents he described as primarily motivated by quick deals. This comes as the use of artificial intelligence in sports continues to grow, with teams exploring its potential for everything from injury prediction to player performance analysis.
Mitchell previously played for Manchester United’s youth system and has represented England at various youth levels, and was recently named to Jamaica’s preliminary squad for the 2025 Gold Cup. He has made eight appearances for Leyton Orient this season. Club officials have not yet commented on Mitchell’s unconventional negotiation tactics, but the story highlights a potential shift in how players manage their careers, particularly as AI tools become more accessible.
Former Manchester United youth prospect Demetri Mitchell has claimed he used AI platform ChatGPT when negotiating his move to League one side Leyton Orient, saying that the software has been his “best agent to date.”
Mitchell began his career at Old Trafford, going on to make one league appearance for the club before spells at Hearts, Blackpool, Hibernian and Exeter City.
This summer, the 28-year-old left Exeter to join Orient on a free transfer and has said he navigated the move without an agent, a largely unprecedented move in professional football.
“They [Leyton Orient] sent me an offer, and I started using ChatGPT, asking it how to negotiate a deal, and what to say in it,” Mitchell said on the From My Left podcast.
“This is what I was on last season, moving to London, cost of living, missus is gonna move down with me, my little one. I did think I was worth a little bit more as well, but you don’t want to be like that, ‘Oh, yeah I think I should be worth an X amount.’
“And then, also because I didn’t use the agent, I get that [agent fee] as a signing-on fee. [An] agent might have got me a couple hundred pound more, because in these deals there’s not loads of money going on, it’s not big, big amounts.
“So the agent might have got me a couple hundred more, and then the percent that I would have to pay them, the difference, is going to be eaten up anyway.”
Mitchell also launched a wider critique on agents in football and said that the options for representation open to lower-league footballers leaves a lot to be desired.
“There’s three types of agents,” he said.
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“There’s the agent that works for an agency, who’s just getting a salary, then you got agent number two, who works for a big agency and they’re trying to sign young, up-and-coming prospects and then once you’re not one of them prospects anymore, they’re not interested.
“And then there’s agent number three, the one that’s got their own business, [that are] just money-hungry … So they just want to get moves anywhere and anywhere fast.
“When you’re in the lower leagues, it’s difficult to get a good agent, because that’s all you’ve got to work with.”
Mitchell has played for England youth teams ranging from the Under-16s to U20s and made the preliminary 60-man squad for Jamaica ahead of the 2025 Gold Cup.
He has made eight appearances at Brisbane Road this season but is yet to get his first goal for the club.
