Chelsea, Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest have been fined by UEFA after breaching the governing body’s financial sustainability regulations.
Aston Villa are also facing restrictions on player registrations for European competition.
Chelsea were fined €3 million (£2.58m), with €2 million (£1.72m) suspended, after narrowly exceeding UEFA’s squad cost ratio limit for the 2025 calendar year.
Under UEFA financial rules, clubs must keep their squad cost ratio below 70 per cent of turnover.
Financial penalties are calculated based on the extent of the breach and the club’s excess squad costs.
Chelsea acknowledge sanction
Chelsea confirmed the outcome of the UEFA financial rule breaches in a statement, saying:
“Chelsea FC can confirm that the UEFA Club Monitoring process for season 2025/26 has concluded and UEFA has today published its outcome concerning the Club’s compliance position in relation the squad cost ratio for the 2025 calendar year.
“Following proactive and transparent engagement with UEFA, the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) recognised the improving trend in the Club’s squad cost ratio for the 2025 calendar year.
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“However, as the 70% threshold for UEFA’s Squad Cost Ratio was narrowly exceeded, a fine will be paid.”
The London club had already been sanctioned in 2025 with a €31 million (£26.7m) fine and the possibility of an additional €60 million (£51.2m) penalty if it failed to comply with UEFA’s rules over a four-year period.
UEFA said Chelsea’s latest sanction reflects improvements in the club’s financial position.
“Regarding Aston Villa FC and Chelsea FC, which had already been sanctioned in the previous season, the CFCB First Chamber took into consideration the improving trend in their squad cost ratio between 2024 and 2025 in line with projections submitted as part of their settlement agreement.
“As a result, part of the fine is conditional upon the clubs continuing to significantly decrease their squad cost ratio in 2026,” it stated.
Aston Villa face player registration restriction
Aston Villa received the heaviest punishment for the UEFA financial rule breaches among the Premier League clubs, with a €22.5 million (£19.4m) fine for what UEFA described as a “significant breach” of the squad cost rule.
Of that amount, €15 million (£12.9m) has been suspended, provided Villa continue to reduce their squad cost ratio during 2026.
Villa have also been restricted in registering new players for their Champions League squad next season.
The latest sanction follows UEFA’s 2025 settlement, when Villa were fined €11 million (£9.5m) with a further €15 million (£12.9m) suspended over a three-year compliance period.
Newcastle and Nottingham Forest also sanctioned
Newcastle United were fined €3 million (£2.6m) for breaching the squad cost rule.
The club also reached a separate settlement with UEFA over overspending under the football earnings threshold regulations. As part of that agreement, Newcastle must pay an additional €10 million (£8.6m) fine, with €7 million (£6m) suspended pending future compliance.
Nottingham Forest were fined €2.5 million (£2.2m) after also exceeding UEFA’s financial limits.
Strasbourg punished
French side Strasbourg, who share ownership with Chelsea through BlueCo, were fined €25 million (£21.5m), with €12 million (£10.3m) suspended.
The club was also restricted from registering new players for European competition.
UEFA said the suspended portion of Strasbourg’s fine depends on the club significantly reducing its squad cost ratio during the 2026 financial year.
