Chelsea fined for £47m secret payments but avoid points deduction

Chelsea's one-year transfer ban is suspended for a period of two years Chelsea have been fined £10m and handed a suspended transfer ban after admitting making £47m in secret payments to unregistered agents and third-parties over transfers between 2011 and 2018. The £10m fine is the largest ever imposed by the Premier League, topping the £5.5m fine given to West Ham United in 2007 over the signings of Javier Mascherano and Carlos Tevez. However, the Blues avoided a sporting sanction, such as a points deduction, for what the Premier League called "voluntarily self-reporting... historical breaches of rules". Chelsea also received an immediate nine-month academy transfer ban and a £750,000 fine over the registration of academy players between 2019 and 2022. The Premier League's report named a number of transfers related to the unregistered payments, including those of Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto'o, Willian, Ramires, David Luiz, Andre Schurrle and Nemanja Matic. There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of those players. Payments to representatives of another four players are detailed by the Premier League. But their names have been redacted in the report. No reasons have yet been given for them not being made public. The club accepted the charges, which occurred under Roman Abramovich's ownership. The Premier League said "undisclosed payments by third parties associated with the club were made to players, unregistered agents and other third parties" for the "benefit or Chelsea ". The Premier League added that the £10m fine would have been £20m, but was reduced by 50% on account of Chelsea 's proactive self-reporting and co-operation with the process. Chelsea self-reported the potential breaches after Todd Boehly's consortium acquired the club in 2022. The club said: "From the outset of this process, the club has treated these matters with the utmost seriousness, providing full cooperation to all relevant regulators." The Premier League said Chelsea would not have breached its Profitability and Sustainability rules during the applicable seasons, even if the payments had been registered and it therefore did not deem a points deduction to be an appropriate punishment. In 2023, the Blues were fined £8.6m by Uefa for "submitting incomplete financial information" for the period between 2012 and 2019. A separate FA disciplinary process investigating alleged "use of and the making of payments to unregistered agents" is ongoing. Chelsea won two Premier League titles, two FA Cups, one Champions League, one Europa League and one League Cup between the period of 2011-2018. They employed six different permanent managers during the seven-year spell, though there is no suggestion that any head coach was part of the wrongdoing. Current head coach Liam Rosenior said on Monday it was not a "negative distraction", adding: "I think actually that's a line drawn through that issue and we can move on and we can plan to make this club as strong as possible in the long term." Chelsea's James could miss weeks with hamstring injury Ramires - £17m from Benfica in August 2010 Luiz - £21.3m from Benfica in February 2011 Hazard - £32m from Lille in June 2012 Schurrle - £18m from Bayer Leverkusen in June 2013 Eto'o - free transfer from Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 Willian - £30m from Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 Matic - £21m from Benfica in January 2014 Premier League: 2010-11 2nd 2011-12 6th 2012-13 3rd 2013-14 3rd 2014-15 1st 2015-16 10th 2016-17 1st 2017-18 5th

Premier League winners: 2014-15 and 2016-17 FA Cup winners: 2011–12, 2017–18 League Cup winners: 2014–15 Champions League winners: 2011–12 Europa League winners: 2012–13 Chelsea will be relieved to avoid a sporting sanction, which had been the primary concern since the Boehly and Clearlake Capital ownership reported discrepancies discovered during their purchase of the club from Abramovich. The club notes that the Premier League's investigation shows that even if the higher estimated costs of the off‑books payments to agents had been included in previous Profitability and Sustainability Rules calculations, the club would still have been compliant. Their statement also stresses that they effectively opened up their entire book-keeping system to the Premier League for the purposes of the investigation. All parties say thousands of documents were reviewed. The nine‑month academy transfer ban is a setback. It applies to all age groups above the entry‑level under‑nines, although it will not affect overseas recruitment. The ban was issued because of "early contact" made without the selling club's permission. However, Chelsea point out these breaches occurred under the previous leadership. The fact the mitigating circumstances highlighted that the fine could have been £20m - and that a transfer ban and a points deduction were also considered - shows how Chelsea 's decision to be fully co-operative was a sound judgement. Latest Chelsea news, analysis and fan views Ask about Chelsea - what do you want to know? Chelsea fined over secret payments worth £47m 'I don't miss it' - Livingstone criticises England Who did BBC pundits pick in their Six Nations teams of tournament? Oscar-winning Storyville about a Russian teacher's quiet defiance Follow Greg’s 1,000km endurance tandem cycle for Red Nose Day Your weekly dose of fringe‑powered joy Kick off the week with the latest Premier League review Who makes BBC pundits' Six Nations team of the tournament? Video Who makes BBC pundits' Six Nations team of the tournament? Another compelling Players - but why is it unlikely to ever be a major? Six talking points from final round of Six Nations Norrie replaces Draper as British number one - but for how long? More than the Score. Audio More than the Score UFC London - all you need to know Spurs answer Tudor's call with show of fight in the face of crisis 'Best racing ever' or 'a joke'? The row over the new F1 Aberg & Fitzpatrick falter as Young becomes Players champion. Video Aberg & Fitzpatrick falter as Young becomes Players champion Have Old Firm wrestled title momentum away from Hearts? Fernandes is a joy to watch - Rooney. Video Fernandes is a joy to watch - Rooney A finale worthy of the greatest Six Nations in history Why GB are 'positive' despite just one medal at Winter Paralympics What next for Dowman - how do you look after a precious talent? Should the Winter Paralympics be moved? Gordon hits back at 'complete nonsense' from Rooney and Shearer Brentford, the World Cup and an itch to return to Gaelic football They were told it wasn't for girls, but these could be the future faces of F1 Jason Tindall - the most misunderstood man in football? Copyright © 2026 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.