Chelsea must sell players this summer to register new signings for the Champions League, after breaching UEFA’s financial rules.
Despite earning nearly £60-million from their Club World Cup campaign — including £15.6-million from beating Palmeiras in the quarter-finals — the club is still bound by a two-season UEFA settlement agreement.
The Times report, Chelsea must maintain a “positive List A transfer balance” to register players for UEFA competitions. In other words, any incoming transfers must be financially offset by sales.
The west London club was fined £27-million by UEFA, with another £51.8-million suspended, for breaching financial sustainability regulations. But while the fine stings, the registration restrictions are the more urgent issue. Chelsea’s Champions League list must include only players whose cost — salaries and amortised transfer fees — is covered by outgoing deals.
Chelsea have already signed Liam Delap, João Pedro and Jamie Gittens. Estêvão Willian, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Mamadou Sarr and Mike Penders may also need to be registered unless loaned out. Additionally, Romeo Lavia and Wesley Fofana must be added, having been left off the February UEFA squad list.
Chelsea need to raise more than £60-million in sales to comply. Players returning to Cobham — including João Félix, Raheem Sterling, Ben Chilwell, Renato Veiga and Axel Disasi — could be moved on. Their sales would help balance the books, provided they are listed before UEFA’s September 2 deadline.
The club faces a challenge in moving fringe players for permanent fees, which could push more prominent names into the shop window. Christopher Nkunku could attract offers, while Noni Madueke is drawing interest from Arsenal. Chelsea insist they won’t be forced to sell key players, but business will be dictated by the financial constraints of UEFA’s ruling.
Sales will need to come first if Chelsea are to strengthen further this summer and comply with UEFA’s squad registration rules.
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