Leaked documents suggest former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia received information on secret payments to offshore entities linked to player transfers, according to the Guardian.
Granovskaia was once called the most powerful woman in football as she led Chelsea, overseeing transfers under Roman Abramovich.
However, she now faces intense scrutiny regarding deals that happened under her directorship.
Documents from the Cyprus Confidential series showed that Granovskaia appeared to have copies of agreements concerning payments related to the signings of Willian, Samuel Eto’o and Eden Hazard.
These revelations come on top of the Premier League’s ongoing investigation into alleged financial irregularities surrounding transfers made between 2012 and 2019, including those of Willian and Eto’o.
Chelsea’s current ownership, led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, self-reported these concerns despite potentially facing a points deduction.
The current regime claims they were unaware of some details regarding the deals.
The report also reveals that offshore companies linked to Abramovich’s network allegedly provided Granovskaia with a £7.5 million loan for a house purchase and a separate £1.63m payment for unspecified services.
Boehly’s consortium initially planned to involve Granovskaia and chairman Bruce Buck in a transitional period to manage transfers.
However, the irregular financial activities uncovered during due diligence prompted a clean break with the previous regime.
The leaked documents point to potential financial impropriety surrounding the transfers of Willian and Eto’o from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013.
Payments were made to Russian entities hidden beyond the official transfer fees.
The Premier League investigation remains ongoing, and these latest revelations could have a massive impact on Chelsea as football authorities delve deeper into the club’s financial dealings under Abramovich’s ownership.
Chelsea already face a different problem, with many Premier League clubs believing they will be ducked points for running foul of the Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR).
The Blues face multiple financial probes that could yield a record point deduction depending on how Manchester City’s 115 charges are judged.
