BREAKING: Chelsea & Roman Abramovich in talks with Premier League over ‘secret payments’ case
A new report states that Chelsea is believed to be negotiating with the Premier League regarding a financial settlement concerning secret payments linked to transfers during Roman Abramovich’s ownership.
A report published in The Times in 2023 disclosed that the Premier League was looking into purported irregular payments associated with the transfers of Willian and Samuel Eto’o.
In August 2013, Chelsea acquired Willian from Anzhi Makhachkala for £32 million. A week later, former Barcelona striker Eto’o transferred from the same Russian club to Chelsea.
Financial records indicate the transfers of Willian and Eto’o from the now-defunct Anzhi Makhachkala involved ‘payments made to Russian entities that were separate to any transfer fee.’
Payments connected to the signing of Eden Hazard in 2012 have also been under investigation, according to the publication.
Now, a new report from The Times suggests Chelsea are in negotiations with the Premier League over a financial settlement rather than a sporting sanction such as a points deduction.
This is based on suggestions that the new owners discovered the payments during the 2022 takeover process and reported them to the Premier League and UEFA.
Chelsea, meanwhile, are said to be ‘confident’ that an agreement made similar to the £8.6 million financial settlement made with UEFA in July 2023, when they handed over a fee for submitting incomplete financial information during the Roman Abramovich era.
As pointed out by the report, so-called ‘secret payments’ are often met with tough repercussions such as a points deduction but Chelsea argue that rule breaches took place under a different ownership.
It is said the payments would not have been revealed and reported had it not been for the new owners’ due diligence process.
Back in 2023, Chelsea’s owners said the allegations regarding the previously mentioned potential financial rule breaches pre-dated the current ownership and “do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club”.
A statement from the club read: “These allegations pre-date the club’s current ownership. They concern entities that were allegedly controlled by the club’s former owner and do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club.
“Chelsea FC’s ownership group completed its purchase of the club on May 30, 2022.
“During a thorough due diligence process prior to completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions during the club’s previous ownership.
“Immediately following the completion of the purchase, the club proactively self-reported these matters to all applicable football regulators.
“In accordance with the club’s ownership group’s core principles of full compliance and transparency the club has proactively assisted the applicable regulators with their investigations and will continue to do so.”