Everything indicates that UEFA wants to set a limit on the duration of contracts signed by players, this after attention was drawn to the strategy implemented by Chelsea.
According to reports, the body that governs European football has received several complaints from Premier League clubs regarding the policy used by Chelsea in establishing contracts with new players and which is used to circumvent the rules imposed by the financial fair play.
The most recent episode concerns the signing of winger Mykhailo Mudryk from Shakthar Donetsk by the Blues, in a transfer worth 100 million euros.
The Ukrainian player signed an eight-and-a-half-year contract with the London club, prompting several complaints from Chelsea’s opposing clubs, alleging that the Stamfrod Bridge club are using unfair methods to circumvent fair-play laws. financial.
“What Chelsea decided to do was ‘spread out’ the cost of the players by offering them very long contracts.” Sky Sports finance Kieran Maguire said.
“What is done in the case of Mudryk, for example, who was signed for 100 million euros in an eight and a half year contract, is to divide that money by the duration of the contract, which would be 11.7 million per season. That seems to be the strategy.” he added.
In addition to Mudryk, Benoit Badiashile and David Datro Fofana also fit into this strategy, with both players signing contracts valid for seven and a half seasons.
Thus, UEFA aims to set the maximum duration of a contract at five years, without exception. However, such new rules would only be applied to contracts signed from then on.
So far, Chelsea have spent more than €450m on signings this season.
Chelsea manager Graham Potter said the length of contracts being handed to their new signings carries an element of risk but he supports the club’s strategy.
“If things go well you have a fantastic asset and the club is secure in terms of the contract length,” Potter said.
“There’s lots of factors. It’s a direction the club wants to go down and obviously I am supporting that as best I can.” he added.
