How Man United lost Eden Hazard to Chelsea
How Man United lost Eden Hazard to Chelsea
Several Manchester United supporters may still rue the club’s failure to sign former Belgian international Eden Hazard, who instead joined rival Chelsea.
According to The Times, United missed out on Hazard in the summer of 2012 after refusing to pay the player’s agent a “huge backhander”.
The report details allegations concerning the conduct of Hazard’s then-agent, John Bico, during the winger’s high-profile transfer from Lille to Chelsea for a fee of £32 million. In the lead-up to the move, United had reportedly agreed both a transfer fee and personal terms with Hazard. However, the deal collapsed due to United’s unwillingness to make a direct payment to Bico to facilitate the transfer.
The allegations have resurfaced following an investigation into unrelated financial crime charges against Bico in Belgium. Adding another layer to the story, the Premier League is currently scrutinising a £6 million payment made to Bico in 2013 by an offshore company linked to then-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich.
The focus of the allegations rests solely on the actions of Bico.
During his time at Chelsea, Hazard made 352 appearances, scoring 112 goals and providing 88 assists.
He won multiple honours with the club, including two Premier League titles, two Europa League trophies, an FA Cup, and a League Cup. Individually, Hazard was named Premier League Player of the Season, FWA Footballer of the Year, and PFA Players’ Player of the Year in the 2014–15 campaign.
Published on Apr 26, 2025
