Chelsea posts £262.4m loss amid agent spending surge

Premier League club Chelsea has reported a record pre-tax loss of £262.4 million for the year ending June 30, 2025, the club announced on Wednesday.

The figures revealed that Chelsea spent more on agents’ fees than any other English club this season.

The previous highest pre-tax loss in Premier League history was £197.5 million, posted by Manchester City in the 2010/11 season.

The Blues had posted a profit of £128.4 million in the prior year, boosted by the sale of their women’s team to Blueco Midco, a subsidiary, for nearly £200 million.

The club said the losses were driven in part by increased operating costs during the 2024/25 season. Revenue reached £490.9 million, the second-highest in Chelsea’s history, including income from last year’s Club World Cup victory.

A Football Association report on agents’ fees for 2025/26 showed Chelsea leading the Premier League with a spend of £65.1 million, far ahead of second-placed Aston Villa, who spent £38.4 million. Across the English top flight, clubs spent a total of £460.3 million on agents’ fees.

Chelsea also admitted last month to breaching Premier League rules in relation to approximately £47.5 million of undisclosed payments under former owner Roman Abramovich.

The club was fined £10.75 million and given a suspended one-year transfer ban. Unlike other clubs, Chelsea avoided a points deduction after the Premier League cited “exceptional co-operation” from the new ownership consortium led by US businessman Todd Boehly, who self-reported the issue.

Chelsea was deemed compliant with the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for the three years ending 2024/25.