eBay Democratises Football Transfer Window by ‘Listing’ Football Legends Roberto Carlos and Eni Aluko

This Transfer Window Season, eBay UK is giving football fans across the country the chance of a lifetime to sign football legends Roberto Carlos and Eni Aluko to their Sunday League teams for one unforgettable match with eBay’s DREAM TRANSFER.

To showcase eBay’s community ethos of being the ‘people’s marketplace’, partnering with creative lead agency, McCann London, and media agency MediaCom, eBay Dream Transfer’s integrated campaign will bring the excitement of the Transfer Window to local clubs.

Working with media partners including Sky Sports and Joe Media, and youth charity Football Beyond Borders, the campaign aims to take the famous January Transfer Window, a typically exclusive, cultural moment reserved for football’s elite - and democratise it; offering it up to anyone and everyone, no matter who they are or where they live in the UK - through one-game Sunday League contracts, openly listed on eBay all for a fiver.

eBay is renowned for being a place where surprising value is found every day, and now World Cup winner and former Real Madrid Galactico Roberto Carlos, and ex-Juventus and Chelsea women’s starlet Eni Aluko can join the pantheon of famous eBay stories. Utilising the power of the eBay marketplace for good, both players have ‘listed themselves’ complete with bespoke, playful write-ups.

All participants need to do is enter via a £5 raffle ticket with all proceeds being donated to social inclusion charity Football Beyond Borders.

Founded in 2013, Football Beyond Borders was set up to change the lives of young people who may be passionate about football but not fulfilling their potential at school and more than 2000 young people have already benefited from its programmes.

With portraiture and content shot by Amit & Naroop (At Trayler), the broader integrated campaign will play out across January, Transfer Deadline Day and beyond, including teaser films, paid-for and organic online social, TVC, onsite takeovers, all accumulating in ‘Match Day’ films once winners are announced.

Influencers including Sky Sport’s Kelly Cates, Chris Kamara and transfer gossip icon Fabrizio Romano feature throughout the campaign.

Eve Williams, Chief Marketing Officer at eBay UK says: “Bringing communities together who have a shared passion is what eBay’s marketplace is all about. We wanted to kick off 2022 in a big way to celebrate one of the UK’s biggest collective passions - football - and to make it accessible to everyone - all while supporting Football Beyond Borders, a fantastic charity that does great work to help young people reach their full potential through sport. We’re thrilled to be working alongside legends Carlos and Aluko and look forward to seeing which lucky Sunday league team gets them on their pitch.”

Matt Searle, Creative Director at McCann London says: ““In recent times the ‘Beautiful Game’ has gotten ugly. Tarnished by elitism, the football pyramid and communities who thrive because of it, are in threat of being left behind. But, by using eBay we set out to democratise the biggest marketplace of all: with bags of heart, a lot of fun, a Serie A champ, and a World Cup winner. Can Carlos bend it in Bromley? You bet he can. Can Aluko do it on a wet night in Stoke? Just watch her shine! And best of all? Either legend is yours on eBay, for the price of a pint - with funds raised going to a good cause. Now that’s something we can all cheer.”

The work builds off the back of The English Football League (EFL) and eBay’s Small Businesses United three-year partnership that celebrates the businesses powering local communities around all 72 EFL clubs.

MediaCom’s Sport & Entertainment Director, Alex Brown says: “The Transfer Window is one of the most exciting moments in football every year, but the smaller clubs are always left out. Our campaign with eBay builds on the success we’ve already seen with Small Business United and aims to democratise football to bring it back to the local clubs and businesses where it all started for so many. With world famous footballers and pundits onboard, we’ll deliver a Transfer Window like no other this year across all major platforms.”

Enter for the chance to play with Roberto Carlos and Eni Aluko here. Anyone associated with a Sunday League team can enter, so it’s time to get parents, partners, friends and family involved for the chance to get some Transfer Window glory in local home towns.

Chris Kamara says: “Bringing these retired legends back is going to be a real occasion, raising funds for a great cause - Football Beyond Borders. We want to raise as much as we can to support kids across the UK that all share a love of the great game, so get going on eBay as you really don’t want to miss out! With Carlos’ pace and Aluko’s striking skills we’re in for some cracking football and I can’t wait to see these Dream Transfers take place.“

Entries are open now and will close on Friday 28th January. The winning teams will be announced on Monday 31st January in line with Deadline Day.