Chelsea recorded the highest pre-tax loss in English football history in the 2024-25 season, according to financial data revealed by UEFA on Thursday.
The European Club Finance and Investment Landscape report listed the 10 largest losses for 2025, which showed the club owned by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly booked a €407million (£350m) deficit. That has only ever been beaten by Barcelona’s total of €555m in 2020-21.
In the 2024-25 campaign, Chelsea were competing in the Conference League, which they won. They also finished fourth in the Premier League to return to the Champions League before going on to win the Club World Cup in the summer.
It was during that tournament in the United States that Chelsea were hit with a €31m fine for breaching UEFA's financial rules, with that figure potentially rising to a record-breaking €91m should they fail to comply within the next four years as part of a settlement agreement.
However, sources within Chelsea say as a result of their accounting clean-up, the club is now profitable on an operating basis and they are aligned with UEFA’s financial framework.
The source added their squad cost ratio should sit comfortably within UEFA thresholds, which are considered stricter than the Premier League’s, and they expect to meet all the obligations of their existing settlement agreement with European football’s governing body.
Essentially, Chelsea believe further regulatory settlements going forward will not be required, as they are currently compliant with the parameters which were set.
Chelsea’s creative financing has helped their position in the Premier League, such as the infamous internal selling of their women’s team to the club’s parent company.
UEFA’s rules are more stringent, and their report, which was sent to the media on Thursday morning, explained how Chelsea’s squad at the end of the club’s 2025 financial year was, again, officially the most expensive ever assembled with a combined transfer cost of €1.746billion.
That was up €90m on the record they set the previous year. Manchester City’s squad cost €1.584bn by comparison.
It is said Chelsea believe the UEFA report is not reflective of their finances moving forward. On the pitch, the club are pushing to stay in the Champions League, with them currently sitting fifth in the Premier League – a position which is set to be enough to qualify for Europe’s elite competition at the end of this season. They face league leaders Arsenal away next.
Coolluck26
0
they won't say that one ooo
JumaMasazu
0
world champions 🤣
Jehbcelotz
0
Why wouldn't they be incurring losses at the time these new owners came in? Looking critically, almost the 1st set of players signed were average players leading to shipping many of them out at the end of 2024/25 season. As we speak there are still 3 or 4 players that don't worth being called Chelsea's players.
Hey expert, can you tell me exactly how many players are on Chelsea’s payroll? It’s definitely more than the « few » you’re mentioning…it’s half of Strasbourg team and then some. Calling Chelsea a club is weird. Chelsea is more of a trust fund. But in deficit 🤦🏻♂️
gudiest01
3
they keep buying everything that has leg 🦵 now they're paying for it please don't come after me
TheMadristasince1992
0
So calling urself a Chelsea fan don't know who & who are NOT FIT to play for chelsea. Can u compare some of these current players with players of those in the past?
who is chelsea fan? Read my name first before concluding something.🙄
TheMadristasince1992
0
Why wouldn't they be incurring losses at the time these new owners came in? Looking critically, almost the 1st set of players signed were average players leading to shipping many of them out at the end of 2024/25 season. As we speak there are still 3 or 4 players that don't worth being called Chelsea's players.
who is chelsea fan? Read my name first before concluding something.
sipbceklpr
1
line
Sabekmrst
1
World club cup is nothing financially.
tuubdnpsty
1
TutG
0
Chelsea is suffering walai
McForlemu
5
You mean the World Champions?? Wow! Was there nor cash reward for winning the trophy??? FFP is just a myth.
Vimbii
2
Good because they deserve it loss and profit its business
Dæmòń
0
Although the won world championship cup
[image]
Just what I was expecting from an arsenal fans,go ahead and win it and see how it looks like to be a world champion,delusion local bottlers😂😂
Fouadmorsu
3
why are they not sanctioning city
Yupabklort
3
Raheem sterling 😂
Yuwabilnr
0
And who are they, that are not qualified to play for Chelsea, can you name them please?
So calling urself a Chelsea fan don't know who & who are NOT FIT to play for chelsea. Can u compare some of these current players with players of those in the past?
TheMadristasince1992
0
Why wouldn't they be incurring losses at the time these new owners came in? Looking critically, almost the 1st set of players signed were average players leading to shipping many of them out at the end of 2024/25 season. As we speak there are still 3 or 4 players that don't worth being called Chelsea's players.
And who are they, that are not qualified to play for Chelsea, can you name them please?
weeakloy
1
sharp
tedaikruy
2
Although the won world championship cup
Yuwabilnr
1
Why wouldn't they be incurring losses at the time these new owners came in? Looking critically, almost the 1st set of players signed were average players leading to shipping many of them out at the end of 2024/25 season. As we speak there are still 3 or 4 players that don't worth being called Chelsea's players.
peaceofmind
1
the government and FIFA are swimming in money