Why Chelsea star is filing a lawsuit to collect unpaid transfer fees

Andrey Santos will return to Chelsea this summer once his loan spell at Vasco da Gama concludes, but the Brazilian is taking legal action over his former, and now loan, club.

The 19-year-old completed his move to Chelsea from Vasco during the January transfer window for a fee which could be worth up to £18 million.

“It’s a very big opportunity for me,” said Santos upon signing for Chelsea. “This is a big club playing in big competitions like the Premier League so I am very excited.

“The players here are so good and I am very happy to be here.”

But Chelsea were unable to obtain a work permit for the teenager and a decision was made to allow him to return to Brazil and re-join Vasco on a short-term loan until the summer to aid his application to be able to play for Chelsea.

Santos, who captained Brazil to U20 FIFA World Cup glory, was owed a portion of the sale and it was agreed to be paid in three instalments. However, Vasco have only paid one of the three agreed payments.

As reported by Globo Esporte, Santos is now filing a lawsuit to receive the final two instalments of the pending debt, while the representatives of Santos and the company that licences his image also have not received their commissions.

Four separate lawsuits were filed on Friday after the payments, which were agreed to be paid in full by the end of April, were not made.