Chelsea get unwanted FFP message as £52m transfer reality clear after latest statement

Arsenal became the first top Premier League side to publish their financial results for the 2022/23 season. For Chelsea, it holds some serious weight.

The Gunners announced that they recorded a loss of £52.1million, which was marginally higher than the year before. That was down to what is described as 'impairment write-downs', or in other words, asset depreciation. In footballing terms, it is selling a player they don't feel they could get true value for in the accounts, allowing an exit on a loss, or terminating a contract.

The loss before tax, and excluding these 'exceptional items', was nearly £10million better off than in the 2021/22 period. For Chelsea, there may well be a sense of dread surfacing at this stage.

The Blues confirmed a loss last year of some £121million — though that was for a period overseen almost entirely by the Roman Abramovich administration. That, however, was also heavily impacted by extraneous circumstances, the club argued, with the sanctions placed upon it resulting in less operating revenue coming in.

During that period, Chelsea wrote, turnover increased by over £40million, «driven largely by increased matchday and commercial revenue from the return of fans on matchday.» Chelsea added that, «Broadcasting revenue decreased relative to the previous year due to lower UEFA Champions League distributions and the knock-on impact of the COVID-19 pandemic from the 2019/20 season into the 2020/21 financial year.

»Commercial revenue increased to £177.1 million, as the Club benefited from a net increase in sponsorship revenue from new contracts and existing partner renewals." The club added, in a pointed statement from the new owners after less 12 months in charge, that, «Despite the loss in the year