Chelsea have been fined £10.75m, handed a suspended ban from signing first-team players and given an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban by the Premier League over breaches of financial rules during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.
The club, who still face potential sanctions from the Football Association over 74 charges of breaching agent regulations, were investigated by the league over undisclosed payments to agents, non-licensed intermediaries and other figures, including players, around signings between 2011 and 2018.
A source indicated that the FA’s investigation into Chelsea is also expected to conclude with the club receiving a fine and a suspended transfer ban, with the club’s decision to self-report the previous ownership’s activity anticipated to have a bearing on the level of the punishment.
Chelsea have received the biggest fine handed out by the Premier League but avoided a sporting sanction, such as a points deduction. The suspended first-team transfer ban lasts for two years and will be triggered if there are further breaches.
The league explained the settlement by pointing to “exceptional cooperation throughout the investigation” from Chelsea and noting that “significant mitigating factors” were at play. The offences took place under the previous ownership and were self-reported by BlueCo, the investment vehicle that owns the club after the takeover from Abramovich in May 2022.
