I can attribute 90% of my career success to what I learnt before the age of 7.

At age 4 we left London for a year and went to live in Pertuis, France. My mum enrolled me in a French nursery. I hated the first few weeks, but within a few months I’d picked up the basics of the language.

Then when I was 6, we moved to Spain, and the same thing happened.

By age 7, I was trilingual.

And it was to become the cornerstone of my entire career.

Speaking multiple languages allowed me to form genuine relationships with overseas agents.

I reached out to agencies across South America; I formed partnerships with French agencies wanting access to Premier League deals. It worked because I could call agents directly in Spain, Italy, or South America and explain exactly what each club was looking for and how much they had to spend.

No confusion. No misinterpretation. Just useful information and direct access to opportunities.

On Zoom calls between player and clubs, I could translate in real time, bridging both sides, keeping negotiations alive, and ensuring deals didn’t stall over small misunderstandings. I became the linchpin in closing the deal.

Once the player arrived in England, I helped them settle. The player now had someone they could speak to in their native language.

The agent was calm because they knew their player was being looked after and was less likely to be poached by rival agencies.

When a player feels secure, they play better. When that happens, the next deal is just over the horizon.

So my hack this week is:

1 - If you do know a second or third language, start learning how to use it to your advantage. Call clubs in the territory that speaks your language. Build relationships with agents that speak that language. Start bringing opportunities that come through these new relationships. Learn how to make your USP actually work for you.

2 - If you don’t yet know a language, start now. The best time to start was back at nursery. The second-best time is now.

Pick a language and spend 10 minutes a day learning it. Within 12 months you’ll be in a different place completely, and within 24 you should be able to add real value.

All for the amount of time it takes to drink a coffee or play a single game of FIFA.

It’s one of the simplest ways to increase your long-term value in football and business. Then you’ll be able to build relationships that would never have existed otherwise.

You stop being an outsider trying to get in and start becoming someone they can relate to.

That’s the real benefit; it turns introductions into relationships, and relationships into opportunities.

Every 10-minute session is a small investment in something most people will never start, and that’s why it pays off.

If you look at my transfer history, most of my biggest successes have been international players moving into England. That’s no coincidence. It’s the direct outcome of being able to communicate efficiently across borders.

It all starts with 10 minutes a day. And it’s still one of the most valuable habits you’ll ever build.