David Sullivan Karren Brady West Ham
(Credit: Imago)
Stefan Borson
Sun 22 June 2025 11:29, UK
West Ham will pay a debt worth more than £7million despite currently being “powerless” in an ongoing legal battle.
The Premier League side signed Nikola Vlasic in a £26.8million deal from CSKA Moscow in the summer of 2021.
A second payment of around £7.2million was due to CSKA in July 2022, but it could not be paid due to UK sanctions on Russia.
In 2023, FIFA ordered West Ham to pay the Russian side that figure or face a ban on registering newly signed players.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has ruled the Hammers must pay the outstanding money only when they can get a license from the British government or the sanctions regime is amended.
It also overturned a FIFA order that West Ham should be liable for 5 per cent interest since 2022 on the money.
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Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider West Ham are currently “powerless” due to the sanctions.
CSKA said on 13 June they could file an appeal with Switzerland’s supreme court as the three-year dispute rumbles on.
Vlasic, who now plays for Torino, registered just one goal and two assists in 31 appearances for West Ham.
West Ham
David Sullivan has faced criticism from West Ham fans (Credit: Getty Images)
West Ham to pay debt after sanctions
Borson insisted West Ham will pay the money owed to CSKA when they can.
He told Football Insider: “They are going to have to make the payment, so what can you do?
“There are sanctions. You just won’t get anybody that will break the sanctions, so they’re powerless to make the payment.
“There is no way around a football debt anyway because, I don’t know what the situation is with the Russian teams at the moment, but ordinarily you wouldn’t be able to participate in Uefa competition if you had outstanding debts to other clubs within Uefa.
“Then FIFA also get involved if you have got outstanding debts to international teams, so there’s no way around it.
“They are going to pay it. The only question is, how can they actually pay it? And right now, they can’t pay it because of the sanctions.
“Can they use the money elsewhere? Well, I guess so. It will be in their general working capital. They get some benefit from that. It’s not really ring-fenced, I suspect.
“Although, maybe they do need to put it somewhere separate to point to it. Open a separate client account in some law firm that says as soon as we are able to make the payment we will. I don’t know.
“They are going to pay at some point, but who knows when?”
West Ham
Nikola Vlasic endured a disappointing spell at West Ham (Credit: Getty Images)
West Ham set sights on signing Aaron Martin
In terms of a potential incoming, Football Insider revealed on 19 June West Ham are among several clubs tracking Aaron Martin.
The 28-year-old enjoyed an outstanding season with Genoa and was one of the most creative defenders in Europe, registering eight assists in 36 Serie A games.
West Ham are in the market for left-back reinforcements following the departure of Aaron Cresswell.
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