New Chelsea probe
CHELSEA are facing another transfer probe after allegations they paid the father of their Denmark defender Andreas Christensen more than £500,000.
Documents published by Danish newspaper Politiken after being obtained by the Football Leaks website allege Chelsea entered into a hidden agreement to lure Christensen, then 15, to London. FIFA are already investigating 14 transfers of minors by Stamford Bridge and are believed to have suggested a two-year transfer ban over four windows, and a heavy fine over the deals which include Burkina Faso midfielder Bertrand Traore.
According to Leaks, Chelsea recruited Sten Christensen as a scout on the day they completed the
signing of his son from Brondby in 2012.
According to copies of Chelsea’s consultancy agreements, published by Politiken, Christensen snr began working for the club on the same day as his son – July 1, 2012 – and was paid £11,400 a month plus VAT over four years, an outlay totalling £656,640.
Christensen snr was still working for Brondby as goalkeeping coach.
Politiken claim there is no evidence Christensen did any scouting for Chelsea during that time.
Chelsea, one of five Premier League clubs being investigated by FIFA over possible violations of rules on the signing of foreign players under 18, have declined to comment.
Premier League rules state: “No club may lure or attempt to entice a player to sign a contract by offering him or any person directly or indirectly a benefit or payment.” A Premier League spokesman said: “Should we receive any substantive material that indicates our rules may have been violated we will of course investigate.”
Chelsea would only say: “We do not comment on speculation concerning confidential contracts or player-related matters.”
Christensen snr said: “This is a story you’ve got from some Ukrainians or something like that. I have no comments at all.”
Football Leaks’ documents also appear to show Manchester City were allegedly willing to breach Premier League rules to sign Christensen before Chelsea swooped.
A City document headlined ‘Financial Summary of Youth Acquisitions’ dated January 6, 2012, acquired by Football Leaks, includes Christensen with a valuation of £430,000 and an additional note: “£230,000 to family.”