Stefan Borson
Mon 10 March 2025 7:00, UK
Aston Villa and Chelsea have both faced issues complying with the Premier League’s financial rules over the past couple of years.
The top-flight duo agreed last-ditch sales to avoid a potential profit and sustainability (PSR) breach last season, while Stamford Bridge chiefs have also sold some non-football-related assets.
In an attempt to offset their major losses for 2023-24, Chelsea sold their women’s team to owners BlueCo in June last year in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £150million.
A new Uefa report revealed Chelsea’s revenue dropped from £513million in 2022-23 to £435million last season, while their wage bill fell from £404million to £331million across the same period.
It also showed Villa’s turnover surged from £218million to a new club-record figure of £270million in 2023-24, but their salary expenditure increased from £194million to £245million.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider both clubs appear to have breached Uefa’s squad cost ratio (SCR) rules in 2024.
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Clubs in European competitions were required to keep spending on player wages and fees to 80 per cent of revenue last year.
Borson previously told Football Insider Villa purposely breached the financial rules after realising they couldn’t achieve their ambitions without taking some risks.
Unai Emery’s side secured Champions League football after finishing fourth in the Premier League last season, while Chelsea ended the campaign in sixth place.
Unai Emery Aston Villa
Aston Villa and Chelsea could face issues with repeated breaches
Borson revealed it could be more of an issue for Villa and Chelsea if they repeatedly break the rules in the future.
He told Football Insider: “It looks like on the face of it as though both Aston Villa and Chelsea will fail Uefa’s squad cost control test.
“They will potentially fail the sustainability one as well.
“It’s not a big deal because you just get a relatively small fine.
“But you know the more times that you go on failing, the more there is going to be an issue.
“The first time you fail, there isn’t a big deal.
“You will get a small fine, but repeated failure is more of an issue.”
Aston Villa
Aston Villa are rapidly approaching £100m windfall
Borson previously told Football Insider Villa are rapidly approaching a £100million windfall following their performances in the Champions League this season.
The West Midlands giants finished eighth in the revamped league phase of the competition to qualify automatically for the last 16.
Games Played 9
Wins 6
Draws 1
Losses 2
Aston Villa in the Champions League this season
Emery’s side recorded a 3-1 victory over Club Brugge in the first leg of their last-16 tie on Tuesday (4 March).
Villa will now host the Belgian side at Villa Park on 12 March in the second leg for a place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
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