Brighton Accounts Reveal How Much Compensation Chelsea Paid For Graham Potter And His Coaching Staff

Accounts published by Brighton & Hove Albion this week have revealed how much Chelsea paid the club in compensation when they hired Graham Potter and his coaching staff last year.

Chelsea did not only take Potter when they replaced former boss Thomas Tuchel in September 2022.

Assistant manager Billy Reid, player recruiter Kyle Macaulay, goalkeeping coach Ben Roberts and first-team coaches Bjorn Hamberg and Bruno Saltor all followed Potter from Brighton to Stamford Bridge.

To buy Potter and his staff out of their Brighton contracts, Chelsea paid a total of £21.5 million.

Graham Potter and his staff cost Chelsea more than £21m in compensation

IMAGO/Sportimage/David Klein

Brighton's 2021/22 accounts, which were made publicly available, show that the club's overall revenue rose by £29m compared to the previous 12 months to a record £174m.

Potter's exit came after the end of the accounting period, but it was mentioned on the accounts in the "Post balance sheet events" section.

The section read: "Since the year end, the group has entered into transfer agreements for confirmed contracted net transfer fees receivable of £88,845,000.

"On 18 September 2022 the Club was delighted to appoint Roberto de Zerbi as its new Head Coach following the loss of Graham Potter and his team to Chelsea a few days earlier in a deal that saw the Club receive a sum of £21.5m." 

Chelsea are currently four points behind Brighton in the Premier League table, despite the Seagulls having played two games fewer this season.