Chelsea transfer ban lifted in Kakuta deal

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

Chelsea were barred by the world governing body in September from signing new players until 2011 after being found guilty of inducing Kakuta, 18, to break his contract with Lens in 2007.

The club appealed and was cleared to sign new players in January's transfer window pending a final decision by CAS which was handed down on Thursday when Chelsea were cleared.