Chelsea hopes for financial settlement with Premier League over secret transfer payments | Chelsea
Chelsea are negotiating with the Premier League over a financial deal relating to secret transfer payments made during Roman Abramovich's ownership.
A financial deal is considered the most likely outcome as the club's current owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, discovered the irregularities during the acquisition process in May 2022 and reported them to the first division and UEFA.
A result is expected before the end of March, and sources are confident that reports from Chelsea will ensure they do not receive a sporting penalty such as a points deduction.
The possibility of sanctions arose after leaked files obtained by The Guardian in 2023 revealed a series of secret payments made during the Abramovich era, raising questions about how the Russian financed the club's success. The Premier League has been investigating payments that appeared to be related to the signings of Samuel Eto'o and Willian in 2013. Payments apparently related to the signing of former Belgian winger Eden Hazard have also been under investigation.
Secret payments would normally risk a sporting sanction, but Chelsea's argument is that any allegations of breaching the rules were linked to previous ownership. It has also been noted that the payments would not have come to light without Boehly and Clearlake alerting the relevant authorities after conducting an exhaustive due diligence process.
Chelsea reached a similar deal with UEFA, agreeing an £8.6m deal in July 2023. The Premier League is expected to make clear that any deal should not be seen as a penalty, while clubs are believed to Rivals are sympathetic to the deal. situation that Boehly and Clearlake faced after the acquisition.
There is also a strong expectation that the case will not cause Chelsea any problems with the league's profitability and sustainability regulations. Chelsea have remained obedient from the PSR perspective.
Eto'o and Willian were bought in August 2013 by Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala, a now defunct club in Dagestan. Financial records indicated payments unrelated to transfer fees were made to two companies, Tobeo Services Inc and Fernington Invest Corp, based in the British Virgin Islands. There is no suggestion that any of the players had knowledge of the payments.
Chelsea and the Premier League declined to comment.
