UEFA Sets Five-year Limit On Player Contracts

UEFA, Chelsea, European football governing body, UEFA, will change its Financial Fair Play rules in response to Chelsea’s recent trend of signing players on long-term contracts.

Several European clubs have reportedly made complaints about the transfer dealings of the west London club.

Chelsea has conducted over five player transfers this January and is still keen to sign more players despite their midtable struggles.

The Club World Cup holders signed former Arsenal target, Mykailo Mudryk on an £89 Million deal after the loan acquisitions of Joao Felix on loan, and the duo of  David Datro Fofana and Benoit Badiashile.

That means that the eight-year signing of Mudryk will be valued at £11 million

Signing players on extended contracts enables Chelsea to spread the life of that deal in a bid to escape financial fair play penalties.

READ ALSO: Chelsea Set To Sign Atletico Madrid Star, Joao Felix, On €11 Million Loan Deal

UEFA will consequently set a five-year limit over which a transfer fee can be spread.

Clubs will still be able to offer longer deals under UK regulations but will not be able to stretch transfer fees beyond the first five years.

The change to FFP rules will come into force during the summer and will not apply retrospectively.

France defender Benoit Badiashile and Ivory Coast striker David Datro Fofana both signed six-and-a-half-year deals at Chelsea earlier this month and Noni Madueke joined on a seven-and-a-half-year contract following Ukraine winger Mudryk’s arrival.

Defender Wesley Fofana moved to Stamford Bridge on a seven-year deal and left-back Marc Cucurella joined on a six-year contract last summer. Raheem Sterling’s deal is five years.

The Noni Madueke transfer took Chelsea’s spending since last summer close to £450m, but the players’ long contracts will help them comply with the regulations.

Madueke is eligible to play for the Super Eagles of Nigeria through his parents and is considered as a homegrown talent in England.