Chelsea F.C. have been handed a Premier League record fine of £10.75 million and a suspended transfer ban after an investigation found the club made secret payments during player transfers between 2011 and 2018.

According to a 28-page report released by the Premier League, the club made 36 payments totaling £47.5 million to unregistered agents and third parties through offshore entities, mainly registered in the British Virgin Islands.

The payments were used to complete several player signings or obtain transfer options without the transactions appearing in the club’s official accounts. The league described the violations as “obvious and deliberate breaches” involving deception and concealment of financial dealings.

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich was implicated in the case, with investigators saying the payments were made with the knowledge and approval of certain senior officials using funds associated with the former owner.

Among the transfers examined were deals involving players such as Eden Hazard, David Luiz, Ramires, André Schürrle and Nemanja Matić. Payments linked to the transfers of Samuel Eto'o and Willian were also found to have been made outside official accounts.

The Premier League initially proposed a £20 million fine and a two-window transfer ban. However, the penalty was reduced after Chelsea’s current ownership group, BlueCo, self-reported the breaches and cooperated with investigators.

The transfer ban has been suspended for two years and will only be activated if the club commits a similar breach during that period.

Chelsea were also ordered to pay an unpaid transfer levy of £771,288 related to the signings of Willian and Eto’o.

With inputs from BBC