Chelsea transfer ban lifted after CAS ruling

The transfer ban imposed on Chelsea by FIFA has been lifted after the Premier League club reached agreement with French club RC Lens over teenager Gael Kakuta, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said on Thursday.

"The Court of Arbitration for Sport has issued an award today ratifying the agreement reached by Chelsea FC, Racing Club de Lens and the French football player Gael Kakuta," CAS said in a statement.

"The CAS has noted that, in the agreement, the two clubs and the player have recognised that the contract between the player and RC Lens was not valid.

"Accordingly, the player could not have terminated it prematurely and without just cause and FC Chelsea cannot therefore be liable for inducing a breach of contract," it added.

"As a consequence, in light of these new circumstances, the sanctions imposed upon Chelsea FC and the player by the FIFA Dispute Resolution Chamber had to be lifted."

Chelsea were barred by FIFA, world soccer's governing body, in September from signing new players until 2011 after being found guilty of inducing Kakuta to break his contract with RC Lens in 2007.