Chelsea 'in talks' with Premier League over settling Roman Abramovich 'secret payments' case with cash to avoid points deduction

Chelsea are understood to be in talks with the Premier League over a financial settlement for secret payments related to transfers under the ownership of Roman Abramovich, says a new report.

Back in 2023, a report from The Times revealed that the Premier League was investigating alleged irregular payments which related to the signings of Willian and Samuel Eto’o.

Chelsea signed Willian for £32 million from Anzhi Makhachkala in August 2013 before former Barcelona striker Eto’o joined from the Russian club a week later.

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.

Roman Abramovich sold Chelsea to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in 2022. Image credit: Getty

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."

SPORTbible have reached out to Chelsea and the Premier League for comment.