Chelsea's Willian, Eto'o transfers probed by PL

Chelsea’s Willian, Eto’o transfers probed by PL – sources،

Chelsea’s signings of Willian and Samuel Eto’o in 2013 are part of the Premier League’s investigation into the club over possible breaches of financial regulations, sources have confirmed to ESPN.

ESPN reported in August that the club was under investigation after new Chelsea owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital reported a number of transactions to the game’s governing bodies as part of the due diligence process necessary to finalize their takeover last May.

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This led to Chelsea being fined 10 million euros ($10.65 million) by UEFA in July for submitting incomplete financial information regarding several transactions between 2012 and 2019.

The Premier League is yet to conclude its own process but, as the Times first reported, sources have confirmed to ESPN that the deals which brought winger Willian and former Cameroon striker Eto’ o at Stamford Bridge are part of the investigation.

Chelsea signed Willian 10 years ago after securing a last-minute deal for the player when he was close to signing for Tottenham. A few days earlier, during this summer window, Eto’o arrived with a one-year contract. Both players joined Chelsea from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala.

Willian now plays for Fulham, another west London club, while Eto’o retired in 2019.

Abramovich, who bought the club in 2003, was forced to sell Chelsea last year after being sanctioned by the British government over his alleged links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“These allegations predate the current ownership of the club. They relate to entities allegedly controlled by the club’s previous owner and do not concern any person currently at the club,” Chelsea said in a statement on Monday.

“The ownership group of Chelsea FC completed the purchase of the club on May 30, 2022. During an extensive due diligence process prior to the completion of the purchase, the ownership group became aware of financial information potentially incomplete regarding historical transactions during the club’s previous ownership.

“Immediately following the completion of the purchase, the club proactively reported these issues to all relevant football regulators.

“In line with the club ownership group’s core principles of full compliance and transparency, the club has proactively assisted the relevant regulators in their investigations and will continue to do so.”