Chelsea’s transfer ban has been reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and will be free to sign players in the upcoming January transfer window.

The west London club were found guilty of failing to protect minors from trafficking, illegally registering players and prohibiting third-party influence on players, and were subsequently fined £467,000 and banned from signing new players for two windows, which began in the summer window.

The club has successfully had the ban downgraded and Frank Lampard will have Roman Abramovich’s cheque book, as the Blues look to press for a Champions League position.