Chelsea have been fined £10 million and handed a suspended two-window transfer ban after admitting to 74 breaches of Football Association (FA) regulations involving undisclosed payments to agents and third parties during the ownership of former club owner, Roman Abramovich.
The sanctions, announced by the FA on Friday, bring to a close a lengthy investigation into historical financial irregularities uncovered after the club’s current owners, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, voluntarily disclosed the breaches following their takeover in May 2022.
According to the FA, Chelsea admitted making £47 million in secret payments to unregistered agents and third parties in connection with player transfers completed between 2011 and 2018.
An Independent Regulatory Commission had initially imposed a suspended six-point deduction, alongside the £10 million fine. The points deduction, which was to remain suspended until June 30, 2027, was later overturned on appeal and replaced with a suspended two-window registration ban, also effective until June 30, 2027.
The £10 million fine remains in force, with the FA saying the money will be channelled into grassroots football projects across England.
The investigation is understood to have examined transfers involving former Chelsea players, including Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Willian, all signed during Abramovich’s tenure at Stamford Bridge.
While concluding the disciplinary process against the club, the FA said investigations into possible individual misconduct connected with the case are continuing.
Chelsea welcomed the decision, saying it marks the conclusion of all outstanding regulatory matters arising from the historical breaches voluntarily reported by the club.
In a statement, the club said: “Chelsea Football Club is pleased to confirm that a final decision has been reached by The FA’s judicial bodies in relation to historical regulatory matters that were self-reported by the club.”
The Premier League side added that it had cooperated fully with investigators, providing thousands of documents and engaging openly with the relevant authorities throughout the process.
The latest sanctions add to a series of regulatory penalties imposed on Chelsea since the change in ownership. In March, the club received a nine-month academy transfer ban and a £750,000 fine for breaches relating to academy player registrations between 2019 and 2022.
Chelsea had also agreed a €10 million settlement with UEFA in 2023 over incomplete financial reporting linked to the Abramovich era.
With the FA proceedings now concluded, Chelsea said it considers all regulatory investigations arising from the self-reported historical issues officially resolved.
