The Premier League said Chelsea reported the possible rule breaks themselves, which led to two investigations. After reviewing the case, an independent commission agreed that Chelsea must pay £10.75m in fines for breaking rules related to financial reporting, third-party investments, and youth development.

According to The Guardian, Chelsea have also received: A nine-month ban on signing academy players A one-year transfer ban for the first team, but this ban is suspended for two years (so it will only apply if they break rules again).

The investigation found that between 2011 and 2018, payments were made by people connected to Chelsea to players, agents, and other third parties. These payments were not reported to football authorities, including the Premier League, even though they were made for Chelsea’s benefit. Some transfers investigated included deals involving Eden Hazard, Willian, and Samuel Eto’o.

Chelsea were accused of making agreements that allowed third parties to influence the club’s decisions, which is against league rules. The commission could have given stronger punishments, such as deducting points, but it decided not to.

A similar case with UEFA in 2023 had resulted in a €10 million fine for incomplete financial reporting. Chelsea said they fully cooperated with investigators and took the matter seriously. The Premier League also acknowledged the club’s “exceptional cooperation”, noting that many of the rule breaches might never have been discovered without Chelsea reporting them.