Chelsea announce £32.5m profit for 2019-20 despite coronavirus crisis but figures don’t include £253m transfer splurge

CHELSEA have revealed a £32.5million profit in their latest financial results for the 2019-20 campaign.

However, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic meant their overall turnover fell from £446.7m to £407.4m for the year ended June 30, 2020.

Roman Abramovich’s Chelsea has recorded a £32.5m profit for 2019-20

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But that was offset by qualification for the Champions League, as well as player sales that helped the club record a profit, including the sale of Eden Hazard to Real Madrid, which could eventually reach close to £150million.

According to the figures, broadcast and match day revenues dropped to £17.6million and £12.2million respectively, due to the season being suspended in March.

Although, that meant a reduction in match day costs with games being postponed.

Commercial revenue was also down by £9.5million, with non-match day activities around Stamford Bridge closed because of the pandemic.

The report also reveals that Chelsea are continuing to ‘comply with UEFA’s break-even criteria under the Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations’.

And the Blues did invest £93.7million in the squad, including on existing player contract negotiations.

However, Chelsea’s summer transfer splurge has NOT been included in the new figures.

Roman Abramovich signed off on £253million worth of deals, for the likes of Kai Havertz, Timo Werner, Ben Chilwell, Hakim Ziyech and Edouard Mendy.

Chairman Bruce Buck revealed on the club’s website: “In common with many, many businesses across the globe, the pandemic has had a significant impact on Chelsea’s income.

“But it is a sign of the strength and stability of our financial operation that the company was still able to post a profit in the past financial year.

The figures don’t include Chelsea’s £253m summer transfer splurge, which included the £70m spent on Kai Havertz

“This was done while continuing to invest in our playing staff and indeed had normal football not halted in March, projections show a record profit and record turnover would have been achieved.

“That would have represented an increase in revenue for a fifth year in succession.

“Despite the impact of Covid, the revenue streams remained strong, our team is developing on the pitch and the club is in a good position to continue to grow when football is able to operate as it did previously, a time we are all looking forward to.”