Roman Abramovich allegedly made a €7m secret payment to Eden Hazard’s agent around the time of his move to Chelsea, with the agent convincing the player not to join Arsenal.

Belgium's forward #10 Eden Hazard attends a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 29, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by JACK GUEZ / AFP)
Belgium’s Eden Hazard attends a press conference at Salwa Beach, southwest of Doha on November 29, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by JACK GUEZ/AFP via Getty Images)

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich apparently made a secret €7m payment to the agent of Eden Hazard around the time of the player’s transfer, according to leaked documents reported by The Guardian.

The documents reportedly suggest that Leiston Holdings, owned by Abramovich, agreed to pay €7m to Gulf Value FZE in March 2013 for “advisory services […] related to […] sport research and consultancy”.

The contract was signed on the company’s behalf by John Bico, who was Hazard’s agent at the time.

This was just months after Hazard’s move to Chelsea, with Bico reportedly demanding a £6m commission during transfer negotiations.

LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal goes down whilst under pressure from Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on August 18, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Matteo Guendouzi of Arsenal goes down whilst under pressure from Eden Hazard of Chelsea during the Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Arsenal FC at Stamford Bridge on August 18, 2018. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

This is all relevant to Arsenal because the Gunners were also in the race to sign Hazard at the time.

Bico has previously confirmed as much, admitting that he vetoed the move.

The agent told the media that the Arsenal transfer was Hazard’s preference, and his family’s preference, but he refused to let it happen, purportedly for sporting reasons.

“It was his number-one choice,” Bico admitted. “His father’s number-one choice too. But for me, it was a categorical refusal even when I really like this club, its history.

“At the time, there were too many young people and too many French people. It would have been a little like Lille. Eden accepted this veto. [With difficulty], but he did.

“Arsenal would have been a decision of the heart but not that of a man, even if it costs me to say that.”

Belgium's Eden Hazard pictured after a draw result 0-0 meaning the elimination in the group phase at a soccer game between Belgium's national team the Red Devils and Croatia, the third and last game in Group F of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Al Rayyan, State of Qatar on Thursday 01 December 2022. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)
Belgium’s Eden Hazard pictured after a draw result 0-0 meaning the elimination in the group phase at a soccer game between Belgium’s national team the Red Devils and Croatia, the third and last game in Group F of the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Al Rayyan, State of Qatar on Thursday 01 December 2022. (Photo by VIRGINIE LEFOUR/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images)

These comments are now cast in a new light by the revelation of this alleged secret payment to Bico.

If Chelsea indeed agreed to pay the agent €7m behind the scenes, that would certainly give him strong motivation to push Hazard to turn down his preferred choice of Arsenal.

The Guardian claim experts say the transaction, among others, could now lead to Premier League sanctions and point deductions for Chelsea.

To be clear, there’s no suggestion of wrongdoing on Hazard’s part. It’s very possible he didn’t even know about the payment until now.