Hip-hop icon Lil Wayne has made a strategic move in the global sports business arena after his Young Money Sports Agency signed Belgian international footballer Amadou Onana, marking the agency’s first partnership with a European-based football star.
According to AllHipHop.com, the Aston Villa midfielder has joined Young Money Sports for the management of his name, image and likeness (NIL) rights, including sponsorships, endorsements and brand partnerships. The agreement positions Onana for broader commercial exposure, particularly in the United States, where the intersection of sport, music and fashion continues to gain momentum.
Young Money Sports, formally known as Young Money APAA Sports, was established in 2017 through a partnership between Lil Wayne and the von Gontard family’s APAA Sports. Since its launch, the agency has grown into a major player in athlete representation, managing the commercial interests of more than 80 athletes across football, basketball, boxing and softball.
Onana, 24, brings a strong European and Premier League profile to the agency’s expanding roster. Born in Dakar, Senegal, the defensive midfielder began his professional career at German side Hamburger SV in 2020, scoring on his debut in the DFB-Pokal. He later earned a move to French champions Lille before joining Everton in 2022 in a deal reportedly worth over US$40 million.
His rise continued in July 2024 when Aston Villa secured his services for around US$65 million, making him one of the most expensive defensive midfielders in Premier League history, AllHipHop.com reports.
On the international stage, Onana has been a regular for Belgium, featuring at the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and playing every minute of Belgium’s campaign at Euro 2024 in Germany, further elevating his global profile.
The signing underlines Young Money Sports’ growing influence in elite professional sport. In late 2024, the agency attracted widespread attention after signing Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter ahead of the NFL Draft, later negotiating his four-year, US$46.65 million deal with the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Onana’s move to Young Money Sports comes as football’s footprint in the United States continues to expand ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which the country will co-host. With Major League Soccer growing and global brands increasingly targeting American audiences, European footballers are seeking stronger commercial representation in the U.S. market.
Under the agreement, Young Money Sports will handle Onana’s commercial and brand-related activities, while his football contracts remain managed by traditional football agents. The structure allows the agency to focus exclusively on marketing, sponsorship and lifestyle opportunities.
Beyond football, Onana has also begun building a presence in music, releasing rap tracks under the name 24 AM. His debut single, Check On Me, was released in August 2024, highlighting his crossover appeal beyond the pitch.
As reported by AllHipHop.com, the deal reflects Lil Wayne’s broader vision of positioning Young Money Sports as a global bridge between elite athletics, entertainment and culture.