Last updated on July 5, 2025
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Chelsea and Villa are both facing the threat of squad registration bans.
Image credit: That’s Football!
Chelsea and Aston Villa have been hit with heavy fines by UEFA for breaking financial fair play rules.
Both clubs could also face restrictions on signing new players for European competitions unless they balance their transfer spending before the summer window closes.
The Fines in Detail
Chelsea were fined €31 million (about £26.7 million) and could face an extra €60 million (£51.2 million) if they break the rules again in the next four years.
Aston Villa were fined €11 million (£9.5 million), with a possible extra €15 million (£12.9 million) if they don’t comply over the next three years.
The punishment comes after both clubs were found guilty of spending more than allowed based on their earnings, particularly in areas like wages and player costs.
UEFA’s rules state that a club should not spend more than 80% of its income on wages and transfers.
Chelsea are set to play in the Champions League next season (2025–26), while Villa will feature in the Europa League.
What UEFA Said
The punishments were issued by UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB).
The body explained that clubs cannot include profits from:
- Player swaps
- Transfer bretwen related companies
- Sales of assets (like hotels or internal club departments)
as part of their official earnings when submitting accounts to UEFA.
How Chelsea Broke the Rules
Chelsea recently announced a £128.4 million profit in June 2024.
However, that number included the £200 million sale of the women’s team to another company within their parent group, BlueCo.
Chelsea also sold two hotels to a sister company, which was allowed under Premier League rules, but not under UEFA regulations.
Villa’s Financial Moves
Aston Villa have reportedly agreed to sell their women’s team in a similar move to meet the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
However, again, this is not enough under UEFA’S stricter guidelines.
While Chelsea have already spent around £150 million on five players this summer, Villa have not yet made any major signings.
Other Clubs Involved
Chelsea and Villa are not alone. UEFA also fined:
Barcelona: €15 million (£13 million)
Lyon: €12.5 million (£10.7 million)
Lyon could even be excluded from European competitions if their appeal against being relegated to Ligue 2 for domestic financial issues fails.
Crystal Palace at Risk?
This situation may also affect Crystal Palace, who might miss out on the Europa League.
The concern is over multi-club ownership rules, as John Textor, a part-owner of Palace, also has a stake in Lyon.
UEFA is investigating whether this could be a conflict of interest.
What Chelsea Said
In a statement, Chelsea said:
“The club has worked closely and transparently with UEFA to provide a full and detailed breakdown of its financial reporting, which indicates that the financial performance of the club is on a strong upwards trajectory.
“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.”
What This Means
This news highlights how UEFA’s financial rules are stricter than the Premier League’s, and that clubs can’t rely on creative accounting or internal sales to balance their books when it comes to European competitions.
With Chelsea and Villa both facing the threat of squad registration bans, they’ll need to carefully manage their summer spending and possibly sell players before the window closes.
Key Takeaways
- Chelsea and Aston Villa fined for breaking UEFA’s financial rules.
- Both clubs risk being blocked from registering new players in European competitions.
- Other clubs like Barcelona, Lyon, and possibly Crystal Palace are also affected.
- UEFA is cracking down on creative financial tricks, even if allowed under domestic rules.
