Exclusive: Chelsea face £250m hit after crushing blow
Chelsea’s operating losses could have increased to around £250million last season, sources have told Football Insider.
The Premier League club’s financial situation has been firmly in the spotlight since BlueCo completed its £4.25billion takeover in May 2022, bringing to an end Roman Abramovich’s 19-year reign in charge.
The London giants’ latest published accounts for 2022-23 revealed their operating losses stood at £218million before player-trading profits and other asset sales were factored in.
Chelsea sold two Stamford Bridge hotels to BlueCo in 2023 for a total of £76.5million to ensure their pre-tax losses fell from potentially as high as £166million to £90million for 2022-23.
Under the profit and sustainability rules (PSR), top-flight clubs can lose a maximum of £105million over a rolling three-year period.
The west London side spent around £450million on new signings last season, while several players moved on in a bid to balance the books.
Sources have told Football Insider Chelsea’s operating losses could have reached as high £250million for 2023-24, leaving club chiefs with a “big” challenge to bring those figures down.
Chelsea agreed off-field deal to avoid PSR blow
In a further attempt to offset their major losses, Chelsea sold their women’s team to BlueCo in June last year in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £150million.
The West Londoners already know they avoided a spending breach for 2023-24 after the Premier League didn’t hand out charges to any clubs.
Deloitte’s 2025 Money League revealed Chelsea’s overall revenue fell from £513million in 2022-23 to £469million last season.
The club’s commercial revenue increased from £210million to £225million across the same period as they attempted to make up for their lack of European football.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s wage bill dropped from £404million to £334million in 2023-24 as Stamford Bridge chiefs aim to bring down their costs.
| Position | Team | GP | Pts | GD |
| 1 | Liverpool | 28 | 67 | +40 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 27 | 54 | +28 |
| 3 | Nottingham Forest | 27 | 48 | +11 |
| 4 | Man City | 27 | 47 | +16 |
| 5 | Chelsea | 27 | 46 | +16 |
| 6 | Newcastle | 27 | 44 | +8 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 27 | 43 | +13 |
| 8 | Brighton | 27 | 43 | +5 |
Chelsea owners suffer takeover blow
Chelsea fans protested against their owners ahead of the 4-0 victory over Southampton on Tuesday (25 February).
The club have spent more than £1billion on new signings since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital completed their takeover just over two-and-a-half-years ago.
Football Insider revealed on 8 November Chelsea’s valuation has dropped over the past couple of years following their lack of success on the pitch.
Enzo Maresca’s side currently sit fifth in the Premier League table as they go in pursuit of a return to the Champions League for next season.
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