Chelsea have announced that they made a loss of £23.1m last season, despite winning the Premier League title.
According to the Blues annual financial results, the deficit kept them within Financial Fair Play (FFP) limits.
“It was a primary aim in the past financial year to be one of the clubs with a continuous record of meeting the regulations,” said chairman Bruce Buck.
Chelsea, who made a record £18.4m profit last year, announced revenues of £314.3m, marginally down on the previous year’s record of £319.8m. Chelsea put this down to their elimination from the Champions League in the first knockout round compared with a semi-final appearance in 2014. But that figure is still the second best in the club’s history – the Premier League champions turned over £255.8m in 2013.
Chelsea reported match-day and commercial revenues for the 2014-15 season as largely unchanged from the previous year. The stadium continued to sell out and general admission prices remain frozen at 2011-12 levels. Chelsea anticipate record revenues again next season to reflect their new sponsorship deal with Yokohama Rubber, which is worth around £40m a year, and revenues related to this season’s Champions League. Those improve because the London club entered the competition as Premier League champions and with an increase in television revenue for English clubs.
“These will be powered by new commercial deals, including our record-breaking partnership with Yokohama,” added Buck.
“They will also be enhanced by revenues related to this season’s Champions League which improve due to entering as Premier League champions and an increase in TV revenue for English clubs.”
Usually missing out on the riches of Champions League football can usually de devastating to a club’s finances, and with Chelsea in 15th place, that is a real possibility. But with the massive new domestic television deal set to kick in next season, the impact of missing out on Champions League football for Chelsea neg season will be the lowest in years.
