Chelsea have sacked their commercial director Damian Willoughby after he was found to have sent ‘inappropriate messages’ to a female football finance agent.
The director sent improper text messages to Catalina Kim, who was involved with a bid to buy Chelsea in March.
The messages were sent before Willoughby joined Chelsea in last month.
“Chelsea confirms that it has terminated commercial director Damian Willoughby’s employment with immediate effect,” a club spokesperson said today.
“Evidence of inappropriate messages sent by Mr Willoughby, prior to his appointment at Chelsea FC earlier this month, has recently been provided to and investigated by the club.
“While they were sent prior to his employment at the club, such behaviour runs absolutely counter to the workplace environment and corporate culture being established by the club’s new ownership.”
Willoughby returned to Chelsea last month following the club’s takeover by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital after Roman Abramovich gave up ownership over Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Willoughby had initially worked for Chelsea between 2007 and 2010.
The Telegraph reported that Kim highlighted the messages to Chelsea’s head of business, Tim Glick, who hired Willoughby.
Kim’s firm C&P Sports Group waa involved in British property owner Nick Candy’s bid to buy the Premier League club.
“The club’s owners are working tirelessly to set and achieve the highest standards both on and off the pitch, and are determined to establish and nurture a culture of transparency, accountability, inclusivity, diversity and opportunity,” a Chelsea spokesperson said.
“The club is committed to creating an environment which embodies these values.”
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