Exclusive: NBC Pundit reveals why Chelsea spent so heavily last season

Chelsea’s transfer strategy over the past year has been heavily criticized, especially considering their league performance. The amount of money spent by Chelsea in such a short time has raised eyebrows, with figures never before seen in English football.

Robbie Mustoe, a former Middlesbrough player and current NBC pundit, shared some exclusive insights with The Byline regarding the situation at Stamford Bridge. Mustoe explained that Chelsea’s owners, Boehly/Clearlake, splurged on transfers, particularly during the summer of 2022 and January 2023. According to Mustoe, this swift spending was influenced by financial issues inherited by the new ownership. He suggested that the club’s accounts revealed concerning discrepancies that led them to fear potential penalties, such as another transfer ban. In an attempt to preemptively address these concerns, Chelsea decided to stockpile players.

In January, Chelsea made several signings, including Enzo Fernandez, Badiashile, Datro Fofana, Gusto, Mudryk, and Madueke. However, due to Champions League registration rules, only three players could be included, leaving Madueke, Badiashile, and Datro Fofana out of the squad entirely. Additionally, Chelsea loaned out Felix while only allowing Jorginho to leave, resulting in an overstocked squad that even excluded Aubameyang.

As of now, Chelsea remains under investigation by the Premier League, having only received fines from UEFA.