Chelsea will find out their fate over their appeal against the transfer ban before the summer after FIFA confirmed that a hearing will be held next month.

The Blues had protested that they had been treated unfairly when sanctions were not lifted during the appeal process.

However, FIFA have now decided to hear the London club’s appeal on April 11th, before the summer transfer window, meaning that if they are successful they will be able to sign players again this summer.

Whether that is a likely outcome, it remains to be seen. There are 29 separate transfers where FIFA believe Chelsea have breached transfer rules so the appeal could take some time.

If they are unsuccessful, the next course of action would be to take their case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), although their ban would remain in place while their appeal is being heard.

Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen says he doesn’t believe any player will be allowed to leave the club if the sanctions are not lifted:

“The situation I have ended up in has been very difficult to accept. The messages we have received are that Chelsea cannot appeal the case and therefore want to keep all the players.”