The £2.5bn in proceeds have been frozen in a UK bank account since the sale, with Mr Abramovich sanctioned after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The UK government wants the money to be for Ukrainian humanitarian aid, but Mr Abramovich has said he wants it to go to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”.

In a joint statement, Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said: “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”

They said they wanted “to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible”.

They added: “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine, following Russia’s illegal full-scale invasion.

“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far”.

The delay in releasing the funds centres on a disagreement between the UK government and his lawyers.

Mr Abramovich – a Russian billionaire who made his fortune in oil and gas – was granted a special licence to sell Chelsea following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, providing he could prove he would not benefit from the sale.

He is alleged to have strong ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, something he has denied.

He cannot access the £2.5bn sale proceeds under UK sanctions but the money still legally belongs to him.

When he announced his decision to sell the club, he said proceeds from the sale would be donated via a foundation “for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine”, which would include those in Russia.

The UK government has pushed back and argued that the funds should only be spent on humanitarian efforts inside Ukraine.

A House of Lords committee said last year said it was “incomprehensible” that Mr Abramovich’s promise to use the funds to support Ukraine remained unfulfilled, and that the assets remained frozen.

“This impasse reflects badly on both Mr Abramovich and the government, which ought to have pushed for a more binding commitment,” the report said.

Abramovich, who remains sanctioned by the UK Government due to alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin, has conducted a two-part interview about the £2.5 billion sale of Chelsea in 2022 to American consortium Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, a deal which took place after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The interviews took place in Abu Dhabi in January and in Istanbul a year prior and are said to include Abramovich’s account of his initial takeover of Chelsea FC in 2004: the sanctions, his efforts in the previous peace process and his suspected poisoning in March 2022.

Before these, Abramovich’s most recent interview was to Forbes in March 2021 and, aside from a short statement in January that year about Frank Lampard’s sacking and statements about Chelsea’s ‘Say No to Anti-Semitism’ campaign, he had not given an official interview since 2006.

The book named “Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC” is written by Nick Purewall and will also tell other stories from that accelerated 95-day sale – run by Raine Bank under the supervision of the UK government – and will be released by Biteback Publishing this summer.

The funds from the sale remain in a frozen bank account while Chelsea are aiming to qualify for the Champions League and win a trophy for the first time under the new American ownership.

The Guardian has reported that leaked files show the Russian billionaire used offshore companies to make transactions worth tens of millions of pounds to agents and associates which appear to have been for the club’s benefit and could have breached financial rules if they were not officially declared.

The revelations are likely to intensify questions over how Abramovich, who owned Chelsea for 19 years until he was sanctioned by the British government in 2022, funded a period of unprecedented success.

Both the Football Association and the Premier League are already investigating potential financial rule breaches by the club.

Chelsea were fined £8.6m by Uefa in July as part of a settlement for breaking Financial Fair Play rules as a result of “submitting incomplete financial information” between 2012 and 2019.

Those breaches were reported by the new Stamford Bridge ownership following the club’s sale to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and private equity firm Clearlake Capital.

Both the FA and Premier League declined to comment while their investigations were ongoing. It is unclear at this stage whether their probes relate to the information Chelsea self-reported or whether these also include the new allegations reported by the Guardian.

A Chelsea spokesperson said: “These allegations pre-date the club’s current ownership. They are based on documents which the club has not been shown and do not relate to any individual who is presently at the club.”

The spokesperson said during the purchase of the club the current owners became aware of “potentially incomplete financial reporting concerning historical transactions during the club’s previous ownership”.

They added: “Immediately following the completion of the purchase, the club proactively self-reported these matters to all applicable football regulators.

“In accordance with the club’s ownership group’s core principles of full compliance and transparency the club has proactively assisted the applicable regulators with their investigations and will continue to do so.”

Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 and invested millions over almost two decades as the club went on to win the Champions League in 2012 and 2021, as well as five Premier League titles.

He was forced to sell the club last year after his assets were frozen by the government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Clubs can be fined and given a points deduction if they are found guilty of breaching financial rules.

Premier League champions Manchester City were charged with more than 100 breaches of financial rules in February. The club have denied financial wrongdoing.

In May, Everton were referred to an independent commission by the Premier League over an alleged breach of FFP rules. They have also denied wrongdoing.

Earlier this week, the BBC reported leaked documents revealed a money trail linking Abramovich to two men dubbed “wallets” of President Vladimir Putin.

BBC Newsnight, BBC Verify and Panorama partnered with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to uncover the revelations as part of Cyprus Confidential – a global investigation led by reporters at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Paper Trail Media.

They alleged that leaked documents from Cyprus reveal new evidence linking him to a secret £26m deal in 2010.

Abramovich has previously denied any financial relationship with the Russian leader.

He has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.

The former Chelsea Football Club owner has been sanctioned by the UK and EU but has previously denied any financial relationship with the Russian leader.

Now, leaked documents from Cyprus reveal new evidence linking him to a secret $40m (£26m) deal in 2010.

Mr Abramovich has not responded to requests for comment from the BBC.

The secret deal transferred shares in a highly profitable Russian advertising company, Video International – for less than they appeared to be worth – from companies ultimately owned by a trust connected with Mr Abramovich, to two members of Putin’s inner circle. They in turn received millions of dollars in dividends.

BBC Newsnight, BBC Verify and Panorama partnered with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism to uncover the revelations as part of Cyprus Confidential – a global investigation led by reporters at the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) and Paper Trail Media.

Confidential records reveal that one of the men involved in the secret deal was Sergei Roldugin, a close friend of the Russian president.

A cellist, Mr Roldugin is the artistic director of the St Petersburg Music House. He has known Vladimir Putin since they were young men in St Petersburg and is reported to have introduced him to Lyudmila Shkrebneva, whom the future president married in 1983 (they are now divorced). Mr Roldugin is the godfather of their first daughter, Maria.

The second man is another close associate of President Putin – Alexander Plekhov, a biochemist-turned-businessman, also from St Petersburg.

Mr Roldugin and Mr Plekhov have both been accused of being “wallets” for President Putin – secretly holding money and assets on his behalf.

Earlier this year, Swiss prosecutors alleged they were “straw men”, and not the real owners of assets in bank accounts set up in connection with the Video International deal.

The court did not identify anyone as the true ultimate beneficial owner of the accounts.

President Putin’s stated salary in 2021 was just over $100,000 (£72,700). However, there are rumours his fortune could be worth anywhere between $125bn (£102bn) and $200bn (£164bn), hidden away in a network of shell companies and the accounts of friends.

Mr Plekhov has been sanctioned by the UK government, and Mr Roldugin has also been sanctioned by the UK, the EU and the US, which described him as a “custodian of President Putin’s offshore wealth”.

The Cyprus connection

The Cyprus Confidential investigation is based on 3.6 million confidential corporate records from companies providing offshore services in Cyprus and has focused on its close financial relationship with Russia and now-sanctioned oligarchs, many of whom have used the island to manage their secret offshore holdings.

They include documents from a corporate service provider in Cyprus called MeritServus, originally obtained by the whistleblowing group Distributed Denial of Secrets. MeritServus was itself sanctioned by the UK earlier this year after internal documents revealed it had breached sanctions on behalf of one of its Russian clients.

MeritServus also worked with Mr Abramovich’s companies in Cyprus. The oligarch’s wealth totals more than $9bn (£7.3bn) and he has made numerous public investments in sports, arts and high-value properties. He became one of the best-known and influential Russian oligarchs in the UK after buying Chelsea FC in London in 2003.

He has downplayed his relationship with President Putin, and challenged suggestions of a close financial relationship or that he has acted on behalf of the Russian leader.

In 2010, a spokesperson for Mr Abramovich said he had “no financial relationship of any kind with [then] Prime Minister Putin”.

And in 2021 he sued journalist Catherine Belton over a passage in her book, Putin’s People, referring to evidence alleging that he had purchased Chelsea FC in 2003 at President Putin’s behest. The case was settled out of court with an agreement by the publisher “to record the position more accurately” and add “a more detailed explanation of Mr Abramovich’s motivations”.

The UK and EU placed Mr Abramovich under sanctions in March 2022 following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

The EU said: “He has had privileged access to the president, and has maintained very good relations with him. This connection with the Russian leader helped him to maintain his considerable wealth.”

Mr Abramovich challenged the EU sanctions in court earlier this year. His lawyer claimed the restrictions were prompted by the Russian businessman’s “celebrity” rather than “based on evidence”.

But the secret deal with Mr Roldugin and Mr Plekhov suggests a close financial relationship between Mr Abramovich and President Putin.

“This case obviously puts more information onto the table and further endorses the alleged connection between Putin and Abramovich in a way that becomes increasingly difficult to deflect,” says Tom Keatinge, director of the Centre for Financial Crime and Security Studies at the defence think tank RUSI.

The deal

A complex web of companies in Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands, and a trust, concealed the football tycoon’s involvement in the transaction – until now.

Leaked documents reveal the former Chelsea boss’s relationship with two companies that bought a combined 25% stake in Video International in 2003.

The two companies – Finoto Holdings and Grosora Holdings – were created in early 2003. Both were ultimately owned, through a series of shell companies, by the Sara Trust Settlement – a trust of which Mr Abramovich was an ultimate beneficiary.

Each company bought a 12.5% stake in the Russian advertising giant in September 2003 for the same price – about $130,000 (£80,000) each.

The price paid was “ridiculous”, says Vladimir Milov, a former energy minister in President Putin’s first term and now a vocal opposition leader. “That stake was clearly worth much more, by many orders of magnitude.”

At the time of the purchase, Video International enjoyed a dominant position in the domestic TV advertising market, taking a cut of any advertising airtime purchased on Russian channels.

The company was “half a step away from the Kremlin administration”, according to Mr Milov.

Mr Abramovich had a stake in Video International for the next seven years. At one point, the company declared a turnover of “more than $2bn [£1.29bn]”. Dividends of $30m (£19.3m) were paid out to Finoto and Grosora over that period.

Video International reported revenues of $3bn (£1.9bn) in 2010. However, Finoto and Grosora each sold their investment that year for just $20m (£19.5m), a price that appears to be below its fair market value.

Finoto Holdings sold its stake to Med Media Network, a company nominally owned by Sergei Roldugin.

On the same day as the Finoto Holdings sale, the other Abramovich-linked company, Grosora Holdings, sold its 12.5% stake to Namiral Trading Ltd, a company later linked to Aleksandr Plekhov.

Putin’s ‘wallets’

Financial links between President Putin and Mr Roldugin were uncovered in 2016 as part of the Panama Papers, which involved the leak of millions of confidential documents from the Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca.

Mr Roldugin, along with Mr Plekhov, was at the centre of a suspected money-laundering scheme run by Bank Rossiya and some of President Putin’s closest associates. Bank Rossiya was sanctioned by the US government in 2014, which described it as “the personal bank for senior officials of the Russian Federation”.

Mr Roldugin told the New York Times at that time that he was not a businessman and did not “have millions”. However, at least on paper, he appeared to have an offshore fortune of over $100m (£61m).

“Rodulgin clearly serves… as a cover-up for Putin’s personal beneficial ownership,” says Vladimir Milov. “This guy is absolutely clearly 100% a nominal figure because he does not understand anything about business, finance, international transactions and so on.”

Revelations in the Panama Papers about bank accounts held by Mr Roldugin in Switzerland, led to an investigation and the trial of four Gazprombank employees earlier this year. The bankers were accused by Swiss prosecutors of failing to properly check accounts opened in the name of Roldugin.

They were also said to have failed to identify the Russian president’s friend as politically exposed – someone whose position or relationships mean that they may be more exposed to risks of corruption, and require more checks under international finance regulations.

According to the indictment, accounts with Gazprombank had been simultaneously established for both Med Media Network and Namiral Trading Ltd with an identical “purpose and structure” to “hold shares and receive dividends” from Video International.

The prosecutors said the arrangement represented a direct extension of “assets managed… for the Russian political establishment”.

Mr Roldugin and Mr Plekhov were “straw men”, and not the real beneficiaries of the accounts, the prosecutors alleged.

All four bankers were convicted, but are reported to be appealing.

The BBC wrote to Mr Plekhov, Mr Roldugin, Bank Rossiya and President Putin for comment but have received no response.

‘Secret conduit’

Many wealthy Russians have used Cyprus, an EU member state, as part of their network of offshore investments. Through these economic relations, Russia is “worth tens of billions of dollars to the Cyprus economy each year”, says Fergus Shiel of the ICIJ.

The Cyprus Confidential investigation raises “grave issues” for European institutions and EU member states, he continues. “What we can see in these documents is a European member being a conduit for the secret financial operations of the Kremlin, of Vladimir Putin and his cronies.”

However, there are signs that Cyprus may be cleaning up its act.

Following the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, many Russians considered close to the financial assets of President Putin were sanctioned by the EU. This has had direct consequences for those with Cypriot investments.

“The sanctions brought home that Cyprus cannot be used by oligarchs to support the dirty orders of Putin,” says Alexandra Attalides, an independent Cypriot MP.

Meanwhile, reports suggest Mr Abramovich now spends his time between the Russian resort of Sochi, Istanbul and Tel Aviv. He has Russian, Israeli and also Portuguese passports.

The oligarch remains the subject of sanctions in the UK and EU, but not in the US, where he is understood to still hold considerable assets.

Russian owner Abramovich put the club up for sale in early March last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which Moscow calls a “special military operation”. UK government sanctions on Abramovich had also complicated the sale process.

Chelsea were not allowed to sell tickets, resulting in a loss of revenue, while their operational spend was also curtailed due to government restrictions until the sale was completed at the end of May.

“During this period, the club was restricted in a number of areas including, but not limited to, its ability to sell matchday and season tickets, sell merchandise, accept event bookings, as well as sign contracts with players and commercial sponsorship partners, which collectively resulted in extraordinary expenses and loss of revenue,” Chelsea said.

“Furthermore, some of these limitations are also expected to have an impact on the financials in the following years due to the long-term impact from restrictions on entering into new contractual arrangements.”

Chelsea said their turnover figure increased to 481.3 million pounds from 434.9 million pounds the previous year mainly due to increased matchday and commercial revenue as fans returned to stadiums after the Covid-19 pandemic.

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The club’s commercial revenue also increased to 177.1 million pounds thanks to a net increase in sponsorship revenue from new contracts and existing partner renewals.

“The higher revenue was offset by increased operating expenses, including matchday and non-matchday costs that resulted from resumed operations and increased staff costs,” the club added.

“The above contributed to the group recording a loss before player impairments and one-off expenses of 26.6 million pounds for the year ended 30 June 2022, and an overall net loss of 121.3 million pounds.

“Despite the loss in the year and the operating challenges due to the sanctions, the club continues to comply with Uefa and Premier League financial regulations.”

Chelsea were bought by an investment group led by American businessman Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, who have invested more than 600 million euros ($645.78 million) in player transfers across two windows.

The club are 10th in the Premier League but also through to the Champions League quarterfinals where they face reigning champions Real Madrid next month.

“Chelsea Football Club can confirm that a final and definitive agreement was entered into last night to sell the club to the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium,” read a statement on the club’s website.

“It is expected that the transaction will be completed on Monday. The club will update further at that time.”

The deal will end 19 years of ownership under Roman Abramovich.

The Russian oligarch was sanctioned following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, because of his links with president Vladimir Putin.

The Kremlin’s decision to enter into a war with its neighbour ultimately meant Abramovich needed to sell the club to keep it alive – but only if he would not profit from it.

Chelsea have been operating under a special licence which kept the club running, but with big limitations.

The club was put up for sale by Abramovich in March just before he was sanctioned by the UK Government for his links to Russian president Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich said he would not be asking for his loans to Chelsea to be repaid and that proceeds from the sale of the club would go to a charitable foundation for “all the victims of the war in Ukraine”.

After reports the oligarch was looking to recoup the money he loaned the club, the 55-year-old has reiterated his commitment to giving money from the sale to charitable organisations.

In a statement released by Abramovich and Chelsea on Thursday evening, a spokesperson for the Russian said: “Firstly, Mr Abramovich’s intentions in relation to gifting the proceeds from the Chelsea sale to charity have not changed.

“Since the initial announcement, Mr Abramovich’s team has identified senior representatives from UN bodies and large global charitable organizations who have been tasked with forming a Foundation and setting out a plan for its activities. The lead independent expert has had conversations with Government representatives presenting the structure and initial plans.

“Mr Abramovich has not been involved in this work and it has been managed independently by experts with years of experience working in humanitarian organizations.

“Secondly, Mr Abramovich has not asked for any loan to be repaid to him – such suggestions are entirely false – as are suggestions that Mr Abramovich increased the price of the Club last minute. As part of Mr Abramovich’s objective to find a good custodian for Chelsea FC, he has however encouraged each bidder throughout this process to commit investing in the Club – including in the Academy, Women’s team, necessary redevelopment of the stadium as well as maintaining the work of Chelsea Foundation.”

The consortium led by US businessman Todd Boehly is the preferred bidder to buy Chelsea, but the UK government will not allow the sale to go through unless it is completely certain Abramovich will not receive any of the proceeds.

The sale is being conducted by the Raine Group, an investment bank appointed by Abramovich, and he will have the final say on who buys the club.

Chelsea’s government licence to operate runs out on May 31 and they are facing the prospect of going out of business unless the club is sold or the licence is extended.

The Premier League is meeting on June 8 to constitute the new season, by which time Chelsea would need to have a licence to be part of the next campaign.

The spokesperson added in the statement: “Following sanctions and other restrictions imposed on Mr Abramovich by the UK since announcing that the Club would be sold, the loan has also become subject to EU sanctions, requiring additional approvals. That means that the funds will be frozen and subject to a legal procedure governed by authorities. These funds are still earmarked for the Foundation. The Government are aware of these restrictions as well as the legal implications.

“To be clear, Mr Abramovich has no access or control of these funds and will not have any access or control of these funds following the sale. Despite the changing circumstances since his initial announcement – he remains committed to finding a good custodian for Chelsea FC and making sure the proceeds go to good causes.”

The news comes with Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe still holding out hope of owning the Blues after submitting a £4.25bn bid on Friday – but American investor Todd Boehly remains in pole position. 

Yet a new report in The Times details that the club are understood to have told the government and all bidding groups that they want to restructure the selling process, including paying off the debt from the club’s parent company Fordstam Ltd to a Jersey-based company – Camberley International Investments – linked to the sanctioned Russian oligarch. 

Abramovich, who told of his intention to sell just days before being sanctioned by the UK government for his ties to Russia president Vladimir Putin, said he would ‘not be asking for any loans to be repaid.’ 

Yet he is now claiming, according to The Times, that the sanctions prevent him from writing off the debt, a claim which would be challenged by the government. 

Sources from rival bid groups, not that of preferred bidder Todd Boehly, said that they were informed the loan needed to be repaid on the sale of the club just ‘days’ before their final offers. 

The report adds that the government are ‘concerned about Chelsea’s ability to compete next season if a deal isn’t done in time to safeguard the club’s future.’

Nadine Dorries, the secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport (DCMS), said last week the club was on ‘borrowed time’ given the government’s licence expires on May 31 which is allowing the club to operate under Abramovich’s  ownership. 

Abramovich previously stated when putting the club up for sale: ‘I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. 

‘The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.’ 

The latest news comes as it emerges that prime minister Boris Johnson is reportedly considering giving some proceeds of the sale to grassroots football in the UK, yet the majority will still go towards supporting Ukraine. 

The British government are looking to avoid the proceeds of around £3billion sitting in a frozen bank account, given the sanctions against Abramovich.

Former Arsenal vice-chairman David Dein has written to ministers asking for £750m of the sale to go towards grassroots football, with a focus on improving 20,000 playing surfaces, building more than 1,000 artificial pitches and renovating changing rooms. 

Writing to Dorries, Dein said: ‘While, to date, the focus has been on the buyers, there is a crucial question of where the proceeds from the sale go.

‘Without question, the victims of the war in Ukraine should be central in our thoughts and anything we can do to use this sale money to support humanitarian efforts should be welcomed.

‘Investment in coaching, pitches, academies and facilities in deprived and left-behind areas could be game-changing for communities and young people.

‘It could help to create a new generation of English football stars while also supporting community cohesion, new jobs, reducing youth crime and helping grow and develop girls’ and women’s football. 

‘These are all cross-government priorities and I hope that Her Majesty’s government may be able to work together to create a game-changing opportunity.’

The Football Foundation charity has held talks with a senior adviser to Johnson, David Canzini, about Dein’s proposal. 

Meanwhile, Boehly is currently in a five-day period of negotiations about buying the club, after the bids of Steve Pagluica and Sir Martin Broughton were rejected last week. 

Yet Ratcliffe’s offer at the 11th-hour is, according to the Evening Standard, still seen as a ‘viable option’ by insiders, with US merchant bank Raine Group still in the process of confirming the new owner to take over from Abramovich.  

The report in the Standard details that Ratcliffe is believed to have bypassed Raine in making his offer, thus avoiding the original complexities of submitting a bid. 

Ratcliffe, the owner of INEOS who have investments in F1 constructors champions Mercedes, Ligue 1 side Nice and cycling team INEOS Grenadiers, was formerly interested in taking over at Stamford Bridge before he joined the process late in the day. 

On Tuesday, Jersey Police searched premises suspected to be connected to Mr Abramovich’s business activities on the island, Jersey Law Officers’ Department said.

The billionaire is on the UK sanctions list over Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Channel Island Jersey follows UK policy and imposes sanctions on the same people.

“The Royal Court also imposed a formal freezing order on 12 April, known as a saisie judiciaire, over assets understood to be valued in excess of US$7bn which are suspected to be connected to Mr Abramovich and which are either located in Jersey or owned by Jersey incorporated entities,” the Jersey Law Officers’ Department said.

Mr Abramovich was among several wealthy Russians added last month to the UK and European Union sanctions lists over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and governments have since been taking action to seize yachts and other luxury assets from them.

The billionaire tried to sell Chelsea Football Club in March, but that process was taken out of his hands by the government after he was sanctioned.

Earlier this month, the Caribbean nation Antigua and Barbuda said it was willing to help the UK seize yachts owned by Abramovich.

Superyachts linked to the businessman, together worth an estimated $1.2bn, have also been docked in southwest Turkey, outside the jurisdiction of the EU and the UK.

The Chelsea owner fell ill along with Ukrainian peace negotiators, in an attack blamed on hardliners in Moscow who they say want to sabotage their talks to end the war.

Symptoms included red eyes, constant and painful tearing, and peeling skin on their faces and hands, sources claim.

Abramovich has been shuttling back and forth between Moscow and Lviv in western Ukraine since the start of the war.

President Zelensky, who has met with Abramovich in recent weeks, was reportedly unaffected.

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The Wall Street Journal is reporting that the Vladimir Putin ally and Chelsea FC owner – who has been sanctioned by the UK government – was hit by symptoms after a suspected poisoning at a meeting in Kyiv earlier this month.

Abramovich, and at least two senior Ukrainian officials, are said to have developed peeling skin on their faces and hands, red eyes, and constant and painful tearing, the paper reported.

Quoting ‘people familiar with the matter’, it added that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who has met with Abramovich, was not been affected.

The lives of the Chelsea owner and negotiators are not thought to be in danger.

Widespread reports have previously suggested Russian forces are attempting to assassinate Zelensky, but it is unclear who the target of the alleged poisoning would have been.

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Russia has been widely blamed for a series of poisonings around the world, including a Novichok incident in Salisbury, Putin critic Alexander Litvinenko and opposition figure Alexei Navalny.

The investigative media group Bellingcat said the incident took place overnight from March 3 to 4, with three people experiencing ‘symptoms consistent with poisoning with chemical weapons’ including Abramovich.

‘Abramovich, along with another Russian entrepreneur, had taken part in the negotiations alongside Ukraine’s MP Rustem Umerov’, it tweeted.

‘The negotiation round on the afternoon of 3 March took place on Ukrainian territory and lasted until about 10 pm.

‘Three members of the negotiating team retreated to an apartment in Kyiv later that night and felt initial symptoms – including eye and skin inflammation and piercing pain in the eyes – later that night.

‘The symptoms did not abate until the morning.’

The billionaire put the Stamford Bridge club up for sale in early March before he was hit with sanctions by the UK government. Abramovich had his assets frozen as a direct result of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, due to his ties with Vladamir Putin, preventing him from making money via Chelsea.

According to Turkish publication Fanatik, the Russian is apparently keen to remain within the football industry and has now started negotiations to buy Super Lig club, Goztepe S.K.

Turkey is currently not applying sanctions to Russians, and the reports of Abramovich opening negotiations with Goztepe come just 48 hours after his £750million super-yacht Eclipse docked at a port in the resort of Marmaris.

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His other luxury yacht, My Solaris, arrived in Bodrum a day earlier, triggering a protest by a group of Ukrainians, who unsuccessfully attempted to prevent the vessel from docking aboard a small motorboat.

Abramovich had his British assets – including Chelsea – frozen on Thursday as part of the government’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The move put the Russian’s prospective sale of the club on hold.

The Premier League said Abramovich’s disqualification would “not impact on the club’s ability to train and play”.

Removing an owner from a board would usually trigger the sale of the shares, a process that Abramovich had instigated on 2 March after after the threat of sanctions was raised in Parliament.

He had instructed American investment firm Raine Group to seek £3bn for the club, but finance experts believe that price could drop given the current uncertainty around Chelsea.

Raine Group temporarily halted the sale process on Thursday while answers were sought from the government about the implications of the sanctions.

The government is open to considering an addition to the special licence it granted the club that would allow a sale to go ahead.

A condition for that to happen, however, would be that Abramovich – one of Russia’s richest people and believed to be close to the country’s president, Vladimir Putin – receives none of the proceeds.

The special licence granted by the government will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket-holders to attend matches.

Chelsea, however, cannot receive money for match tickets which have not already been sold, future gate receipts for FA Cup games or money from merchandise sold via the club shop.

The European champions will also be unable to buy or sell players, or offer new contracts, while the sanctions are in place on Abramovich and he still owns the club.

An amendment to the licence has been granted by the government, allowing Chelsea to spend up to £900,000 on costs for home games, up from the £500,000 set on Thursday.

The allowable away costs of travel, however, remain at £20,000 per game.

A statement from the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) select committee confirming the changes to the licence also welcomed the league’s move to disqualify Abramovich as a club director.

“The government has made clear that we need to hold to account those who have enabled the Putin regime,” the DCMS statement said.

The Russian tycoon will not be allowed to sell the West London club, while unprecedented extra measures have been taken to ensure he cannot profit from its activities.

A new licence allows Chelsea to continue playing all its fixtures due to its status as a ‘significant cultural asset’, but only ‘existing ticket holders’ – including fans with season tickets – will be allowed to attend games. 

The club will not be able to sign transfers or agree any new contracts, but existing staff and players will still be paid and catering services provided at matches. 

Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said: ‘Today’s sanctions obviously have a direct impact on Chelsea and its fans. 

‘We have been working hard to ensure the club and the national game are not unnecessarily harmed by these important sanctions. 

‘To ensure the club can continue to compete and operate we are issuing a special licence that will allow fixtures to be fulfilled, staff to be paid and existing ticket holders to attend matches while, crucially, depriving Abramovich of benefiting from his ownership of the club.

“I know this brings some uncertainty, but the government will work with the league and clubs to keep football being played while ensuring sanctions hit those intended. Football clubs are cultural assets and the bedrock of our communities. We’re committed to protecting them.”

Abramovich, who took over at Stamford Bridge back in 2003, has put the Blues on the market due to fears he could be sanctioned by the British government amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The 55-year-old will depart with every major trophy in the bag, having recently completed the set by winning the Club World Cup and Super Cup following a second Champions League triumph last season.

A host of world-class signings have inspired him to success over the years, and ahead of his Chelsea exit Sportsmail has ranked the 10 best buys of Abramovich’s tenure.  

10. Claude Makelele 

One of Abramovich’s first signings as Chelsea owner was Makelele, who arrived in the summer of 2003 with a lofty reputation after winning two Spanish titles and the Champions League with Real Madrid.

By the time he left Stamford Bridge five years later, the £16.8million Frenchman had made such  a lasting impression that the deep-lying midfield role he made famous in west London was named after him.

While in the ‘Makelele role’, he racked up 217 appearances for Chelsea, playing an integral part in back-to-back Premier League title wins under Jose Mourinho and also getting his hands on two League Cups and the FA Cup.

Makelele also helped the Blues reach their first Champions League final in 2008, where they suffered an agonising penalty shootout defeat by Manchester United, before leaving to bring the curtain down on his legendary career at Paris Saint-Germain. 

9.  Joe Cole

After bursting onto the scene with boyhood side West Ham and emerging as one of the country’s most talented youngsters, the tricky winger earned himself a £6.6million move to their London rivals in 2003.

In the end that fee proved a bargain for Abramovich, as Cole went on to cement a legacy as a modern-day Chelsea icon in his seven years at the Bridge.

His numbers may not have been breathtaking, registering just 40 goals and 42 assists in 281 matches, but it goes without saying that he was a pivotal member of league-winning sides under Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti.

Cole was on hand with several important goals for both managers, including a couple of key strikes in title-race encounters with Manchester United.  

8.  Branislav Ivanovic

In January 2008 Abramovich forked out £10million to prise Ivanovic away from Lokomotiv Moscow in what was the most expensive transfer in Russian football history at the time.

Given he was not the biggest of names, and his arrival at the Bridge went fairly under the radar, not many would have envisaged the Serbian defender going on to become a Chelsea legend. But that’s exactly what he did.

In nine years with the Blues, Ivanovic made 377 appearances, chipped in with 34 goals and helped them clinch three Premier League titles, as many FA Cups, the League Cup, Champions League and Europa League.

He was the hero in the latter triumph, too, heading home a stoppage-time winner to help Rafa Benitez’s side beat Benfica in the Amsterdam final. 

7. Ricardo Carvalho

One half of arguably the greatest centre-back pairing in Premier League history, Carvalho followed Mourinho to Chelsea in 2004 fresh from winning the Champions League together at Porto.

It didn’t take the £20million defender long to adapt to English football, as very quickly he formed a rock-solid partnership with club captain John Terry.

Alongside Terry, and with Petr Cech behind them in between the sticks, Carvalho helped the Blues concede a mere 15 goals as they cruised to the title in record fashion that season. No team has ever managed to ship in fewer.

He stayed for another five years after that, making a total of 210 appearances while winning two more league titles, as many League Cups and the FA Cup before reuniting with Mourinho at Real Madrid in 2010.

6. Cesar Azpilicueta

The Spanish defender is the only player on this list to have collected every major trophy available to him at Chelsea, four of which he captained them to.

And given Abramovich only paid £7million to sign him from Marseille in 2012, he undoubtedly goes down as one of his greatest bargains as Blues owner.

After winning two Premier League titles, the League Cup, FA Cup and Europa League in his first six years at the Bridge, Azpilicueta took on the captaincy in 2018 and led Chelsea to another Europa League triumph in 2019, before adding the Champions League, Super Cup to his trophy cabinet last year. 

He then completed the set by picking up the Club World Cup last month. 

With 461 appearances under his belt and counting, Azpilicueta has already etched his name into the Chelsea history books.  

5. N’Golo Kante

Kante had just played a starring role in Leicester’s historic 2016 Premier League title success when Chelsea came calling that summer. 

Six years on the high-octane Frenchman is now regarded as one of the best midfielders on the planet, and Abramovich getting him for just £32million therefore goes down as an incredible coup.

After capturing a second successive title in his debut season at Chelsea, Kante has gone on to add the FA Cup, Europa League, Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup to his collection while featuring 244 times.

There is no player as tireless and dynamic as him in world football, meaning Blues fans will be desperate for him to stay for a little while longer.

4. Ashley Cole 

Another masterstroke from Abramovich and Chelsea came when they nabbed Cole, the top left-back in the Premier League at the time, from bitter rivals Arsenal in 2006.

The club may have landed themselves in hot water by allegedly ‘tapping up’ the England defender before his move, yet their decision to pay £5million and send William Gallas in the opposite direction to sign him was an inspired one.

After taking some time to settle in, Cole went on to seal legendary status at the Bridge by starring in Premier League, Champions League, Europa League and League Cup victories, while also claiming four FA Cups.

At one stage of his Blues career he was widely considered the best left-back in world football, meaning Abramovich’s player-plus-cash deal was an undoubted success.

3. Eden Hazard

Having garnered a reputation as one of the most exciting players in world football at Lille, Hazard was wanted by almost every European club worth their salt in 2012 – and to European champions Chelsea’s delight he famously revealed on Twitter that he was ‘signing for the Champions League winner’.

The rest is history.  

From the get-go in west London, the £32million stars left Blues fans on the edge of their seats, with his dazzling feet, low centre of gravity, natural strength and eye for goal quickly making him a fans’ favourite.

While producing a tally of 92 goals and 110 assists, Hazard got his hands on two Premier League titles, as many Europa Leagues, the FA Cup and League Cup before securing a £130million switch to Real Madrid in 2019. At the time of his departure, he was rightfully considered the Premier League’s most talented player.

2. Petr Cech

Abramovich paid just £7million to sign the Rennes goalkeeper back in 2004, a transfer fee which is dwarfed by the seismic impact he made in 11 years as a Chelsea player.

Cech, who now works as a technical and performance advisor at the club, hit the ground running by conceding only 13 goals in his debut season, helping Mourinho’s side let in a total of 15 and storm home to Premier League glory in the process. But that was just the tip of the iceberg.

Over the next decade, he swept up another three titles and also won four FA Cups, three League Cups, the Europa League and the Champions League, while recording the most clean sheets in Premier League history (202).

His defining night came in their 2012 Champions League final win over Bayern Munich, when he denied Arjen Robben from the penalty spot in extra-time before saving Ivica Olic and Bastien Schweinsteiger’s efforts in the resulting shootout to help crown Chelsea as European champions for the first time in their history. £7million well spent. 

1. Didier Drogba 

There is no room for debate about who takes the No 1 spot. While Cech’s contribution was also vital, it is Drogba whose name is synonymous with that famous night in Munich.

The Ivorian striker, signed from Marseille for £24million in 2004, had already secured legendary status long before Chelsea’s dramatic Champions League final triumph; having overcome a difficult start at the club to develop into one of the best centre-forwards in world football.

In his first and most fondly-remembered spell at the Bridge; he bagged 157 goals in 341 appearances, won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups and three League Cups before finally getting his hands on the Champions League in 2012. 

Drogba was the hero in their final win over Bayern; first powering home a bullet header in the dying minutes of normal time, then tucking away the winning penalty in a dramatic shootout. 

After departing on that incredible high, he later returned for one more season with his beloved Blues in 2014.

Under Mourinho, who had also ventured back for his own second stint the year before, he picked up another Premier League winners’ medal while playing more of a bit-part role at the age of 35.

The Chelsea Football Club owner is one of seven more Russian oligarchs who have had sanctions placed on them by ministers on Thursday.

Last week, Mr Abramovich announced that he intends to sell Chelsea after almost 20 years of ownership, with net proceeds from the sale to be donated to “all victims of the war in Ukraine”.

In a statement, he said the decision is “in the best interest of the club” amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The sanctions will come into force before the sale of the football club, estimated to be worth around £3bn, is able to take place.Advertisement

Mr Abramovich will have his assets frozen under the move and will also face a prohibition on transactions with UK individuals and businesses and a travel ban.

Boris Johnson said: “There can be no safe havens for those who have supported Putin’s vicious assault on Ukraine.

“Today’s sanctions are the latest step in the UK’s unwavering support for the Ukrainian people. We will be ruthless in pursuing those who enable the killing of civilians, destruction of hospitals and illegal occupation of sovereign allies.”

The other six Russian oligarchs are:

• Oleg Deripaska, who has stakes in En+ Group

• Igor Sechin, chief executive of Rosneft

• Andrey Kostin, chairman of VTB bank

• Alexei Miller, CEO of energy company Gazprom

• Nikolai Tokarev, president of the Russia state-owned pipeline company Transneft

• Dmitri Lebedev, chairman of the Board of Directors of Bank Rossiya

The government has now sanctioned over 200 individuals and entities.

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The Russian businessman released a statement before the FA Cup fifth-round win at Luton calling it an “incredibly difficult decision to make”.

Abramovich has owned Chelsea since 2003 and overseen 19 major trophy wins.

“It’s a bit too early to speak, because I can only think about Chelsea with Roman Abramovich,” said Tuchel.

“So it’s very hard for me. It hasn’t sunk in yet that this is going to stop. It’s a massive change of course. We did not talk about it [before Luton]. We accepted it.

“The players have internet connections, they watch TV so of course they knew, they get messages. But still we focused in the preparation only on sports.

“And maybe some players are more affected, some less, but in the end we managed to focus, grow into this game and find the key to win it.”

Having bought the Stamford Bridge club for £140m, the 55-year-old now values the club at as much as £3bn.

Abramovich says it has “never been about business nor money, but about pure passion for the game and club” and will not ask “for any loans to be repaid”, saying proceeds of the sale will be donated to “victims of the war in Ukraine”.

“I don’t think I need to talk about it, I don’t know as much as maybe you think,” added Tuchel. “I’m not a CEO or member of the board. So, I’m very sure the club will speak to us and the players.

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“I’m not so much worried because I still feel privileged and in a good place. And I still hope and trust for the best. I’m not so much the person who worries about things I cannot influence.

“It’s big news, it will be a big change, but I’m also never afraid of change, and will focus on what I can influence, and this is staff and team at Cobham.”

Speaking to BBC One, he added: “We heard the rumours throughout the day, and it’s on TV, and of course when we have team meetings and we eat together the guys talk about it, everybody talks about it. It is big news, let’s wait and see, hope for the best and see what the day brings.”

Earlier this week, Labour MP Chris Bryant used Parliamentary Privilege to also reveal Abramovich is selling his UK home and another flat, telling the House of Commons the Russian billionaire is “terrified of being sanctioned”.

The Chelsea owner is now looking to sell the club, with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss claiming he has been offered the chance to buy the club.

Abramovich is owed £1.5billion by Chelsea after buying the club in a £140m deal in 2003 but says he will not ask for any of the loans to be repaid.

He says the sale of Chelsea “will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process”.

“This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club,” Abramovich said.

Full Abramovich statement

I would like to address the speculation in media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC. As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart. In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.

The sale of the club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process. I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and club. Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery.

Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the club.

I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person. It has been a privilege of a lifetime to be part of Chelsea FC and I am proud of all our joint achievements. Chelsea Football Club and its supporters will always be in my heart.

Thank you,

Roman

The Russian billionaire wants wants a minimum of £3billion to sell Chelsea as he invites bids for the club.

Swiss billionaire, Hansjorg Wyss meanwhile has confirmed to one potential buyer and has been offered the chance to join a £2bn consortium with ‘six or seven’ other investors to buy Chelsea.

The 86-year-old, worth a reported £4.3bn, has admitted interest in purchasing the Stamford Bridge club from Roman Abramovich, but only in a consortium.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich has publicly expressed his desire to retain ownership of Chelsea, but that could prove close to impossible should the UK Government impose sanctions on the 55-year-old. 

Wyss has admitted he will look into the details of any possible deal to buy Chelsea, with the asking price thought to push beyond £2billion.

‘Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in England, he also wants to get rid of Chelsea quickly,’ Wyss told Swiss newspaper Blick.

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‘I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.

‘I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much. You know, Chelsea owe him £2 billion. But Chelsea has no money. As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price.’

Abramovich attempted to step back from the daily running of Chelsea on Saturday, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

On Saturday, Chelsea’s Russian owner Roman Abramovich announced he was handing them “the stewardship and care” of the club.

The billionaire, who would remain the club’s owner, made the move amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Members of the charitable foundation met on Sunday to discuss the situation.

But some have concerns over whether Charity Commission rules would allow them to run the club, and the foundation’s lawyers are now exploring what can be done.

There are also understood to be some members of the foundation concerned about their legal liability if they agree to take on responsibility for running the club.

The announcement from Abramovich was made on the eve of Chelsea’s Carabao Cup final defeat against Liverpool at Wembley.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart,” Abramovich said on Saturday.

“I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently, they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

Following Abramovich’s statement, which did not reference the invasion of Ukraine, Chelsea released another statement on Sunday which said the situation was “horrific and devastating”.

“Chelsea FC’s thoughts are with everyone in Ukraine. Everyone at the club is praying for peace,” said the west London club.

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The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said it was “seeking urgent clarification” on what Abramovich’s statement on Saturday means for the running of the club.

It is not known yet if Abramovich will be sanctioned as part of the UK Government’s measures against Russia.

BBC Sport understands Chelsea are not for sale, and the £1.5bn loan their owner gave to the club is not being called in.

Abramovich is one of Russia’s richest people and is believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The Chelsea Foundation runs the club’s community and education departments as well as other charitable activities. Its chairman is US lawyer Bruce Buck, who is also chairman of the club as a whole.

The foundation’s other trustees are Chelsea women’s team manager Emma Hayes, the club’s director of finance Paul Ramos, British Olympic Association chair Sir Hugh Robertson, Fare (Football Against Racism in Europe) chief Piara Powar and lawyer John Devine.

During Abramovich’s time at Chelsea, the club have won the Champions League twice, both the Premier League and FA Cup five times, the Europa League twice and the League Cup three times.

Earlier in the week, Labour’s Chris Bryant told MPs he had a leaked Home Office document that suggested Abramovich should not be able to base himself in the UK. He said the government should remove his ownership of Chelsea FC and seize his assets.

On Sunday, Bryant tweeted: “Unless and until he condemns the criminal invasion of Ukraine I will continue to call for the UK to sanction him and seize/freeze assets.”

Downing Street would not be drawn on the claims about Abramovich made in the House of Commons.

The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust said it was “ready to work with the trustees of the Chelsea Foundation in order to ensure the long-term interests of the club and supporters”.

It added: “We stand with the people of Ukraine.”

Abramovich, who will remain the club’s owner, has made the move amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The decision also comes a day before Chelsea play Liverpool in the League Cup final at Wembley.

“I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart,” said Abramovich in a statement.

“I remain committed to these values. That is why I am today giving trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation the stewardship and care of Chelsea FC.

“I believe that currently, they are in the best position to look after the interests of the club, players, staff, and fans.”

Abramovich one of Russia’s richest people and believed to be close to Russian President Vladimir Putin added: “During my nearly 20-year ownership of Chelsea FC, I have always viewed my role as a custodian of the club, whose job it is ensuring that we are as successful as we can be today, as well as build for the future, while also playing a positive role in our communities.”

It is not know yet if Abramovich will be sanctioned as part of the UK government’s measures against Russia.

BBC Sport understands that Chelsea is not for sale and the £1.5bn loan their owner gave to the club is not being called in.

Earlier in the week, Labour’s Chris Bryant told MPs he had a leaked Home Office document which suggested Abramovich should not be able to base himself in the UK.

Downing Street would not be drawn on the claims about Abramovich made in the House of Commons.

Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel had said on Friday that there were “so many uncertainties around the situation of our club” following Russia’s invasion of a neighbouring country.

This comes after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine was also confirmed on Thursday, 24 February.

The Russian billionaire has not been seen at Stanford Bridge, Chelsea’s home as well as his home

He withdrew his application for a British Tier 1 investor visa in 2018, after reported delays in his application following criticism of Russian oligarchs in the wake of the Salisbury poisonings.

The Daily Mail reports that Abramovich has business connections to Russian President Vladimir Putin. He has, however, denied the allegation.

According to The Sun, senior security sources now claimed it is unlikely that the 55-year-old will ever be allowed to live in Britain again.

Immigration officials are reportedly under instructions to make it impossible for Abramovich who owns a £125million mansion near Kensington Palace in the UK. 

It is understood his case is being handled by the Home Office’s secretive “Special Cases Unit”.

It is part of the Security and Counter-Terrorist directorate which handles top-secret matters of national security.

However, there is no suggestion that Abramovich is connected to terrorism or involved in wrongdoing.

In 2018, the billionaire became an Israeli citizen, allowing him to enter for Britain for up to six months. 

He used his Israeli passport last October to make a short trip to London. 

Since Abramovich arrived at Chelsea, the club has won 18 major trophies including the European Champions League twice, the English Premier League five times and has won the FA Cup on five occasions.