Back in July, the reigning Club World Cup winners were handed a £27 million fine for breaching UEFA’s financial regulations, specifically those related to football earnings and the squad cost ratio. ..Continue Reading
Chelsea had disclosed a squad cost ratio exceeding 80% for the 2024 financial year, but they reached a settlement with UEFA to address the issue and avoid further penalties.
In a statement released afterwards, Chelsea said: “Chelsea FC greatly values its relationship with UEFA and considered it important to bring this matter to a swift conclusion by entering into a settlement agreement.”
Kaveh Solhekol of Sky Sports reported that under the terms of Chelsea’s financial settlement with UEFA, the club could only include new signings in their Champions League squad if the cost of those transfers was balanced by selling players who had featured in last season’s Conference League-winning team.
To comply, Chelsea parted ways with Noni Madueke, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, Christopher Nkunku, and Nicolas Jackson, generating a record £314 million in transfer revenue.
This financial maneuver enabled the club to successfully register newcomers Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, and Jorrel Hato for the Champions League, meeting UEFA’s requirements without any complications.
In a statement, UEFA said: “The squad list submitted fulfilled the criteria of the settlement agreement and it was therefore already reviewed and approved before publication on UEFA’s website.”
If Chelsea had failed to meet UEFA’s financial requirements, they could have faced a penalty exceeding £70 million.
However, by offloading 23 players and securing an £18 million profit—despite investing £296 million in new talent—the club has positioned itself well for the upcoming Champions League season, a tournament they’ve won twice before.
Their 23-man squad was officially revealed on Wednesday, drawing attention with the inclusion of Alejandro Garnacho, who recently arrived from Manchester United and was listed among the forwards.
Notably absent was Facundo Buonanotte, signed on loan from Brighton. The Argentine had voiced his enthusiasm about competing on Europe’s biggest stage, but he didn’t make the cut for the squad.
Chelsea will have the opportunity to revise their squad with up to three changes in January, provided they advance beyond the league phase.
Under manager Enzo Maresca, the Blues begin their campaign on September 17 against Bayern Munich. Interestingly, Nicolas Jackson—who transferred to Bayern on deadline day—will be eligible to play against his former club.
Their group stage fixtures also include matchups with Benfica, Ajax, Qarabag, Barcelona, Atalanta, Pafos, and Napoli.
Chelsea’s squad in full:
Goalkeepers: Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen
Defenders: Marc Cucurella, Tosin Adarabioyo, Benoit Badiashile, Levi Colwill, Jorell Hato, Trevoh Chalobah, Reece James, Malo Gusto, Wesley Fofana
Midfielders: Enzo Fernandez, Cole Palmer, Jamie Gittens, Dario Essugo, Andrey Santos, Moises Caicedo
Forwards: Pedro Neto, Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Marc Guiu, Estevao, Alejandro Garnacho
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