Chelsea have been given a huge boost to their hopes of complying with the Premier League's profit and sustainability regulations and Financial Fair Play rules. For many Premier League clubs the season ends in May and their players are given a few weeks to put their feet up before reporting for duty again in July.
But not for the Blues, who will be joined by Manchester City at the FIFA Club World Cup in the summer. Chelsea earned qualification to the 32-team tournament by winning the Champions League in 2021, and they've been drawn in Group D with Flamengo, Espérance Sportive de Tunis and Club León.
Meanwhile, Pep Guardiola's side face Juventus in Group G and Real Madrid have been drawn against Al-Hilal in Group H. Manchester City secured themselves an invitation to the United States by winning the Champions League in 2023.
The Club World Cup now exists separately from previous editions, which the West Londoners won in February 2022. That tournament has now been renamed to the FIFA Intercontinental Cup.
Nevertheless, by securing qualification to FIFA's new club competition, Chelsea are expected to rake in millions for simply participating. According to the MailOnline, the Blues could pocket up to £60m after FIFA signed a £780m ($1bn) television deal with DAZN for the rights to show the Club World Cup.
The report states that no final decision as has been made, but Chelsea have been told to expect between £50m and £60m. This comes as a major coup for the West Londoners, whose spending has been heavily scrutinised since a consortium of investors – led by Todd Boehly – and private equity group, called Clearlake Capital, bought the club in May 2022.
In two and a half years, Chelsea have forked out just over £1bn on signings while generating nearly £500m in player sales. In fact, the Blues' annual report and financial statements for the year ending June 2023 revealed the club secured £512million in revenue during the 2022/23 campaign – which was six per cent more than the 2021/22 season.
However, Chelsea's wage bill soared almost 20 per cent to £404m – the second largest in the English top flight behind only Manchester City (£423m). The west London outfit also recorded £249m in day-to-day operating losses, which was almost £100m more than Leicester City (£152m) in second and Aston Villa (£139m) in third.
While Chelsea's finances have been heavily scrutinised since the takeover, they have continued to comply with UEFA and Premier League financial regulations. In the accounts, Boehly said: "The club continues to balance success on the field together with the financial imperatives of complying with UEFA and Premier League financial regulations. The club has complied with these since their inception in 2012 and expects to do so in the foreseeable future."
The club's next annual report and financial statements for the year ending June 2024 will be made public in April 2025 – before the Blues will have had the chance to account for any television or potential prize money won from the Club World Cup in the summer.
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Chelsea flag prior the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final Leg One match between Chelsea FC and Real Madrid at Stamford Bridge. (Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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