Merseyside Police: No fraudulent activity in Barkley's sale to Chelsea

The Merseyside Police found no wrongdoing in Ross Barkley's £15-million transfer to Chelsea following a request from Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson to investigate the deal, reports BBC Sport.

The Everton-mad politician was incensed at how Barkley was able to refuse a £35-million deadline-day switch to Chelsea last summer, only to move for a much cheaper fee just over four months later to the benefit of "the player, his agent, and the buying club." Barkley's asking price was plummeting due to his Everton contract expiring at the end of the 2017-18 term.

Related: Liverpool mayor requests 'serious investigation' into Barkley transfer

The force's assistant chief constable has written to the Football Association and Premier League to say the investigation yielded no evidence of fraudulent activity. The Merseyside Police requested that each organisation send them any findings to the contrary.

It seems players letting their contracts run down is becoming increasingly familiar, giving footballers more freedom to decide their future and negotiate generous signing-on fees and salaries due to the money clubs save in transfer costs.