Chelsea FC have been handed the biggest fine ever issued by the Premier League, along with a one-year transfer ban that has been suspended for two years.
The total fine of £10.75 million relates to secret payments made to agents worth £47.5 million between 2011 and 2018, during the ownership of Roman Abramovich, as well as breaches of rules concerning the registration of youth players.
According to findings from the investigation, the payments “occurred with the knowledge and approval” of former senior employees and/or directors, as outlined in the sanction agreement.
The transactions reportedly came to light during the due diligence process when the club was purchased by new American owners in 2022. The new ownership subsequently self-reported the irregularities to the Premier League, the The Football Association, and UEFA.
In addition to the financial penalty, Chelsea have also been handed a nine-month academy transfer ban, which takes immediate effect, relating to offences that occurred between 2019 and 2022.
The Premier League noted that Chelsea’s “proactive self-reporting” and “exceptional co-operation” throughout the investigation were considered significant mitigating factors when determining the sanctions.
The club stated that it “accept the terms of the settlement in full” and welcomed the league’s acknowledgment of its cooperation during the investigation.
The suspended one-year transfer ban could become active if Chelsea commit similar offences in the future or if the Premier League finds that the Club Declaration was “intentionally untrue” or “misstated”.
Chelsea were also previously fined £8.64 million (€10 million) by UEFA in July 2023 over incomplete financial reporting by the club’s previous owners in 2018 and 2019.
Investigators identified at least six suspect payments to offshore companies connected to player transfers, with the seven-figure payments not appearing in the financial accounts submitted to football authorities at the time.
The transfers examined in the investigation are believed to include deals involving Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, and Andreas Christensen.
Clubs are required to provide accurate financial information annually to the The Football Association and the Premier League. Similar requirements apply to clubs participating in competitions organized by UEFA.
While UEFA’s five-year statute of limitations limits investigations to breaches dating back to the 2017/18 season, the Premier League does not operate under such a limitation.
