Ashley Cole's verdict on tapping up scandal when leaving Arsenal for Chelsea

21 October 2023 , 07:00

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Ashley Cole signed for Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006 (Image: Getty Images)

Kai Havertz became the second player in less than six months to make the switch from Chelsea to Arsenal after he followed Jorginho in a £65million move back in June.

Eight other players have converted from west to north London and vice versa in the Premier League era, but arguably the most controversial was the first when Ashley Cole joined Chelsea from Arsenal in 2006 - a year after the Blues and several parties were hit with hefty fines.

This was following claims that a secret meeting had taken place to discuss Cole's potential move to Stamford Bridge. Cole and then-manager Jose Mourinho were each hit with a fine of £75,000 after an appeal, while Chelsea received a £300,000 penalty and a suspended three-point deduction.

Cole's agent Jonathan Barnett had his license revoked for 18 months, with nine of those months suspended, while he was also fined £100,000. Chief executive Peter Kenyon and agent Pini Zahavi were also involved in the meeting as Cole eventually signed for rivals Chelsea, despite coming through the Arsenal academy.

Back in 2020, Cole opened up on his move after leaving Arsenal for £5m, with William Gallas going the other way. "My contract was running out at Arsenal," the now-Birmingham coach told the Daily Mail.

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"I went to speak to an agent who represented Spanish clubs. My intention was not to stay in England - I wanted to sign for Barcelona or Real Madrid. So I went to a meeting.

"I didn't hide. I didn't hire a private room. It was a meeting room in a hotel, and the meeting before was Jose and Kenyon meeting an agent about another player. I walked in. Then someone serving sandwiches came in and, wanting to make money, said there were contracts on the table. It was lies. There was no conversation with Chelsea.

Ashley Cole was swayed to join Chelsea from Arsenal (Julian Finney/Getty)

"They said I was cheating on Arsenal. I've been caught in a 'secret meeting' which wasn't that at all. It sold papers and painted me in a bad light with the fans.

"They had signs that said I was a 'traitor' when I hadn't done anything wrong. I talked to David Dein and Arsene Wenger. 'No Ashley, this is not right, you can't do this...' That fuelled more anger in me."

Cole ended up becoming a Chelsea legend, winning the Premier League, four FA Cups and the Champions League across a successful eight-year spell. In total, Cole made 338 appearances before leaving the club to try out a new adventure with Serie A side Roma. He also spent some time at LA Galaxy and Derby, before retiring from professional football and heading into coaching.

Kieran King