The Premier League is reportedly investigating the transfers involving former Chelsea stars Samuel Eto’o and Willian in 2013, as there’s a suspicion of a ‘potential financial rule breach,’ according to the BBC.
The club’s current owners say the alleged breaches ‘do not relate to them.’
The alleged breaches were reported by the current owners, the Clearlake Group, following the sale of the club in 2022, and also alerted the Premier League.
Uefa fined the club £8.6 million in July for breaking FFP rules between 2012 and 2019.
Eto’o and Willian joined during the second term of Jose Mourinho, under the ownership of Russian tycoon Roman Abramovich. They both left the club to join Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala.
A Chelsea statement on Monday said: “These allegations predate 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.”
