Chelsea announce record pre-tax loss of £262.4 million

The previous highest recorded pre-tax loss in the Premier League was the £197.5 million posted by Manchester City for the 2010/11 season.

Chelsea posted a profit of £128.4m in the previous year's accounts but this was aided by the sale of the women's team to Blueco Midco -- a subsidiary company -- for nearly £200 million.

Chelsea said that the losses were due in part to increased operating costs in 2024/25 compared to the previous year.

Revenue was £490.9 million, the club said, the second-highest recorded by the Blues, and included some of the money earned from winning last year's Club World Cup.

Later Wednesday, a Football Association report into agents' fees in 2025/26 had Chelsea leading the Premier League with a spend of £65.1 million -- well ahead of 'second-placed' Aston Villa's £38.4 million.

All together, English top-flight club spent £460.3 million on agents' fees.

Last month, Chelsea admitted to breaching Premier League rules in relation to some £47.5 million of undisclosed payments made under former owner Roman Abramovich.

The Blues were fined £10.75 million and given a suspended one-year transfer ban by the Premier League.

But, unlike other clubs, they escaped a points deduction -- a move justified by the Premier League on the grounds Chelsea's new owners, a consortium led by US businessman Todd Boehly, had self-reported the information that led to an investigation and had demonstrated "exceptional co-operation" throughout.

Chelsea were deemed compliant with the Premier League's profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) for the three-year period ending 2024/25.

The rules allow for maximum losses of £105 million over three years, but some of the losses clubs post in their financial reports can be overlooked under PSR –- for example spending on women's football and youth development.

Chelsea also announced on Wednesday that their women's team, champions of England's elite Women's Super League for the past three seasons, posted a loss of £17.1 million, despite generating £21.3 million in revenue.