A tribunal has been taking place to decide the compensation fee that Chelsea must pay to Exeter City for Ethan Ampadu. The 17-year-old joined Chelsea last summer, the two clubs were unable to agree on a fee.
The youngster has made 7 appearances for Chelsea this season under Antonio Conte. He’s also made his debut for the Welsh national squad. Chelsea have been ordered to pay an initial fee of £850,000, with another £450,000 comprising appearances made and being called up at international level. The exact statement from the Professional Football Compensation Committee read.
“Chelsea Football Club should pay Exeter City an initial net fee of £850,000. In addition to the initial payment a fee of £450,000 is also payable.”
“This fee incorporates an amount for the player signing a first professional contract, making five first-team appearances and obtaining a senior international cap.”
Source: Sky Sports
Exeter City chairman Julian Tagg was not happy with deal. The total fee will rise to £2.5m with £250,000 being paid for every 10 appearances he makes for Chelsea up to 50. A 20% sell-on is also included. However, Mr Tagg doesn’t believe the fee justifies the amount of time and investment his club have spent bringing Ampadu through their system. He’s quoted on the club’s official website.
“Whilst the club recognise, that the compensation fee is not a transfer fee, but instead to reward the club for its investment in the training and development of a proven outstanding player, and that the tribunal has awarded Exeter significant contingent sums, to say that we are disappointed is an understatement.”
“We are disappointed for our fans, our academy, which works so hard on producing talented young players like Ethan and for our management and coaching team who bring these players into the first team and beyond as part of supporting the work of the FA in its objective to produce international players of the highest quality which we believe we have done.”
“However, above all, we are disappointed for football as we feel this decision sends the wrong message in terms of financial reward for those owners, chairmen, managers and coaches up and down the country who are also working as hard as us to improve their clubs by producing talented home-grown players for both club and country.”
Source: Official Exeter City Website
As Chelsea fans we appreciate the need to bring youngsters into the game. We have an army of ‘kids’ out on loan. Clubs like Exeter need to be encouraged to bring players like Ampadu into the game. In an ideal world, it’s how the football pyramid should operate, money passed down from the big clubs financing the lower leagues. Chelsea have yet to comment.