Chelsea manage to 'avoid paying' Graham Potter a world-record fee after ending his contract prematurely

Chelsea have avoided a huge £50 million payout to former manager Graham Potter after the club announced his departure on Sunday afternoon.

Potter, 47, was appointed as Thomas Tuchel's successor at Stamford Bridge on a five-year-deal back in September 2022 but lasted less than seven months in the role, as the West London club announced he had been relieved of his shortly after the dismal 2-0 defeat to Aston Villa.

The former Chelsea and Brighton boss went undefeated in his first nine games but then oversaw a swift decline in the club's form, leading to the team slipping into the bottom half of the Premier League table.

Goals from Ollie Watkins and John McGinn on Saturday evening proved to be the final straw for owner Todd Boehly, who acted swiftly to inform Potter of the news just a day later.

A statement from the club announcing the sacking read: “Chelsea FC has announced that Graham Potter has departed the club. Graham has agreed to collaborate with the club to facilitate a smooth transition.

“In his time with the club, Graham has taken us to the quarter-final of the Champions League, where we will face Real Madrid.

“Chelsea would like to thank Graham for all his efforts and contribution and wish him well for the future.”

The Blues had already forked out a massive £22 million fee to bring Potter to the club last year and were reportedly set to face a world-record £5 0million fee if they wanted to cut his time at the club short, according to The Mirror back in February.

PA Images)

However, according to The Athletic, the club will now pay Potter just a regular severance package after reaching an agreement to avoid the whopping £50 million figure previously stated.

Chelsea will now begin their search for a new manager with former Bayern Munich boss Julian Nagelsmann, Mauricio Pochettino and Eintracht Frankfurt tactician Oliver Glasner all linked with the role. Bruno Saltor, who arrived at the club with Potter, will take charge of the team until an appointment is made.

READ MORE:

• Chelsea’s ‘three-man shortlist to replace Graham Potter’ has been revealed, one is already the ‘favourite candidate’
• Why Chelsea sacked Graham Potter after less than seven months in charge
• The brutal way Chelsea players found out about Graham Potter’s shock sacking, they were ‘stunned and worried’