According to the Telegraph, Chelsea expect to hear on Thursday, December 5 whether they will be able to register new players in January.

Chelsea have appealed their transfer ban to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, and the verdict was expected in the first half of December.


However, according to the top-tier source, the announcement is expected imminently. In fact, Frank Lampard has hinted as much speaking before the Villa game: "I haven’t heard anything more, very soon I believe. Days."

Chelsea have been banned from any transfer activity until February 2020 for breaking the FIFA rules regarding the signings of players under the age of 18.

The full list of violations contains 150 rule breaches involving 69 academy players over several seasons. The Blues were also fined £460,000. FIFA rejected the club's appeal back in April.