The Premier League is currently investigating the transfers of Samuel Eto'o and Willian, which took place in 2013. These transfers are part of a broader investigation into potential financial rule breaches by Chelsea Football Club.
Samuel Eto'o and Willian, both renowned footballers, joined Chelsea in the same week in August 2013. Eto'o, a striker from Cameroon, and Willian, a midfielder from Brazil, were signed from the Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala. The signings occurred under the ownership of Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, who controlled the club from 2003 to 2022.
Current Chelsea owners distance themselves from under fire transfers
Chelsea's owners have responded to the allegations, stating that they pre-date the current ownership and do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club. The club was sold to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital in 2022.
A statement from Chelsea Football 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."
Premier League investigation comes on the back of UEFA fine
In July, Chelsea was fined £8.6m by UEFA for breaking Financial Fair Play rules. The club was found guilty of submitting incomplete financial information between 2012 and 2019. The breaches were reported by the new owners, the Clearlake group, after the club's sale in May 2022. It is understood that they also notified the Premier League at the same time.
The Premier League confirmed the investigation in August. As first reported by the Times, the signings of Eto'o and Willian are being scrutinized as part of this investigation. The investigation aims to ensure that all financial transactions related to player transfers were conducted in accordance with the league's rules and regulations.
The investigation into the transfers of Samuel Eto'o and Willian is a significant development in the ongoing scrutiny of football club finances. It underscores the importance of transparency and adherence to financial rules in the world of professional football.
As sports fans and sports betting fans, it is crucial to stay informed about these developments as they can have far-reaching implications on the game we love.
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