PL giant hit with record punishment as lid lifts over $90m dodgy transfer history

ChelseaFootballClub has been fined £10.75 million and given a suspended one-year transfer ban by the Premier League for historical rule breaches involving undisclosed payments made during Roman Abramovich's ownership. The club avoided a points deduction after self-reporting the violations.

The sanctions stem from information provided to the league by the new ownership consortium led by ToddBoehly, which took over the club in 2022. The Premier League found that between 2011 and 2018, undisclosed payments totaling over £47 million were made by entities associated with former owner Abramovich to players, unregistered agents, and other individuals to facilitate transfers.

These payments, which involved transfers for players including Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, and Willian, were made with the knowledge and approval of senior former Chelsea officials and were not properly disclosed in the club's financial submissions. However, the league stated that even if properly reported, the payments would not have breached Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR).

Chelsea's proactive self-reporting, admissions of breach, and cooperation were cited as mitigating factors in the decision. Specific details include over £23 million paid to unregistered agents for seven player transfers, including Hazard, Ramires, and David Luiz, and over £19 million paid to facilitate the 2013 transfers of Willian and Eto'o from Anzhi Makhachkala.

In addition to the PremierLeague sanctions, Chelsea is also facing 74 separate charges from the Football Association related to the same information disclosed by the new owners.