Chelsea have reacted to the latest move by the Premier League to investigate the club’s signing of Samuel Eto’o and William in 2013.
The Premier League have alleged a possible breach of financial regulations from the two deals which was completed simultaneously in 2013.
Samuel Eto’o and Willian both signed for Chelsea from the same Russian club, Anzhi Makhachkala. The deal was completed when Russian football investor and former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was still at the helm of affairs at the club.
The Premier League are reportedly suspecting that Roman Abramovich must have used his connection to the Russian club to shortchange the rules and bring the two players to Chelsea from the same club in the same year.
Futballnews understands Chelsea have been on the radar of the Premier League since August 2023 for possible financial breaches linked to Roman Abramovich’s era at the club. From 2012 to 2019, Chelsea transfer activities under the defunct ownership is still under scrutiny.
Meanwhile, Chelsea were fined £8.6m by Uefa in July for breaking Financial Fair Play rules as a result of “submitting incomplete financial information.”
The breaches were reported by the new owners, the Clearlake group, after the club’s sale in May 2022 and it is understood they also notified the Premier League at the same time.
Chelsea react to Premier League investigations
A Chelsea statement on Monday said: “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.”
