Chelsea have been hit with a record ban of £10.75million, an academy transfer ban and a suspended first-team transfer ban by the Premier League over illicit payments to agents and other individuals.

The Premier League completed two separate disciplinary processes after the club voluntarily self-reported potential historical breaches of rules.

The charges were related to transfers made during Roman Abramovich’s ownership era at the club, which lasted between 2003 and 2022.

They are mainly focused on transfers carried out between the 2010-11 and 2015-16 seasons – including deals for major stars such as Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o and Willian. 

Chelsea’s fine smashes the previous record set by West Ham, who were hit for 5.5m back in 2007 after breaching rules when signing Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano.  

A Premier League statement today read: ‘The Premier League has concluded two separate disciplinary processes involving Chelsea Football Club, following the Club voluntarily self-reporting potential historical breaches of rules.

‘Two sanction agreements have been ratified by an independent Commission under which Chelsea FC has accepted fines totalling £10.75 million for breaches of the Premier League’s rules relating to Financial Reporting, Third Party Investment and Youth Development 

‘The Club has been sanctioned by the Premier League with an immediate nine-month Academy Transfer ban and a suspended one-year first-team player transfer ban (suspended for two years).’

More to follow.