Former Chelsea executive Marina Granovskaia arrives at court to enter the witness box at the trial of football agent Saif Rubie, accused of sending her a threatening email over £29.1m Kurt Zouma transfer

Former Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia has arrived at Southwark Crown Court to give evidence in a trial that sees football agent Saif Rubie accused of sending her a threatening email during her tenure at the west London club. 

The Russian-Canadian football administrator was a key figure under the club’s former owner Roman Abramovich, and is at the centre of the court case after receiving an email from Rubie in which he is alleged to have demanded payment for Kurt Zouma‘s move from Chelsea to West Ham in 2021. 

Mail Sport reported on Monday that Granovskaia was in attendance on the first day of the trial, and the 49-year-old will give evidence for the first time on Tuesday afternoon.

Zouma’s switch to the London Stadium and the amount he was sold for will be crucial in the trial as the jury decide whether the alleged demand for payment from Rubie to Granovskaia was ‘reasonable’.

The court heard that the total fee of the move was £29.1million, including a £4.1m severance payment to Zouma.

The former Chelsea director is alleged to have received a threatening email from football agent Saif Rubie

The trial related to an email centred on the 2021 transfer of former Blues defender Kurt Zouma

Granovskaia is one of a number of high-profile figures set to figure in the proceedings from Chelsea’s Abramovich era, including former head coach Avram Grant. 

Former Chelsea players Antonio Rudiger and Tammy Abraham were also cited as individuals who could become people of interest, as well as leading agents Pini Zahavi, Barry Silkman, and Kia Joorabchian. 

Brentford owner Matthew Benham was also disclosed as a potential contributor to the prosecution’s case but Judge David Tomlinson cast doubts over the businessman’s involvement in the trial.

Granovskaia initially began working for the club after beginning her career at Abramovich’s former company Sibneft. 

Rubie has pleaded not guilty, and the trial – which could extend into next week – continues

Former players Antonio Rudiger (pictured centre next to Zouma) and Tammy Abraham (right) could yet be identified as persons of interest

During her tenure as director in west London, Granovskaia masterminded a number of key deals (pictured with Thiago Silva in 2022)

She began representing the oligarch in 2010 and was made a board member at the club in 2013, before assuming the club’s directorship a year later. 

Granovskaia is thought to have brokered landmark transfers including Eden Hazard’s eventual £146m move to Real Madrid, and bumper sponsorship deals, such as the Blues’ £60m-a-year Nike contract which is set to run until 2032. 

Rubie has pleaded not guilty. 

The trial, which could extend into next week, continues.