Chelsea FC have been issued the largest financial penalty in Premier League history, alongside a one-year transfer ban that has been suspended for two years following an investigation into historic financial breaches.
The Premier League confirmed the club will pay a total fine of £10.75 million, relating to secret payments to agents totaling £47.5 million made between 2011 and 2018 during the ownership of former club owner Roman Abramovich. The breaches also include violations connected to the registration of youth players.
According to the sanction agreement, the investigation determined the payments occurred “with the knowledge and approval” of former senior employees and/or directors at the club.
The irregular transactions were uncovered during the due-diligence process when Chelsea was purchased by a new American ownership group in 2022. The club subsequently self-reported the findings to the Premier League, the The Football Association (FA), and UEFA.
In addition to the financial penalty, Chelsea have also received a nine-month academy transfer ban, which takes immediate effect and relates to separate regulatory breaches between 2019 and 2022.
The Premier League said Chelsea’s “proactive self-reporting” and “exceptional co-operation” throughout the investigation were considered significant mitigating factors when determining sanctions.
Chelsea confirmed the club accepts the settlement in full and welcomed the league’s acknowledgment of their cooperation.
However, the suspended one-year transfer ban could be activated if Chelsea commit similar violations in the future or if the Premier League determines the club’s official declaration during the process was “intentionally untrue” or “misstated.”
The case follows a separate ruling by UEFA in July 2023, when the governing body fined Chelsea £8.64 million (€10 million) for incomplete financial reporting linked to the club’s previous ownership in 2018 and 2019.
Investigators identified at least six suspect payments to offshore companies connected to player transfers. These seven-figure payments were not included in the financial accounts submitted to football authorities at the time.
Transfers examined as part of the investigation are believed to include deals involving players such as Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, and Andreas Christensen.
Under football regulations, clubs must submit accurate annual financial information to both the FA and the Premier League, as well as to UEFA when participating in European competitions.
While UEFA investigations are limited by a five-year statute of limitations, allowing probes only as far back as the 2017/18 season, the Premier League operates without such a limitation, enabling it to review historic breaches beyond that timeframe.
