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ECLIPSE Yacht – Epic $600M Superyacht

The ECLIPSE yacht was once the largest yacht in the world at an impressive length of 162.5 metres (533 ft) but currently ranks in second place after AZZAM.

Though she is known as the billion-dollar yacht, it is estimated that her true value lies between US $500 – $700 million.

The vessel can host 36 guests and is even rumored to feature a state-of-the-art anti-paparazzi system to protect the privacy of those on board.

ECLIPSE yacht interior

The interior (and the exterior) was designed by Terence Disdale , who has become one of the top names in the industry despite having no formal design education.

ECLIPSE was his largest project to date, and he also worked on prominent vessels such as A+ and AL SALAMAH. The interior of ECLIPSE is classically designed in a style that is to be expected from one of the largest yachts in the world.

The upholstery and furniture follow a beige and crème color palette with wooden accents.

The yacht’s 18 cabins can welcome 36 guests as well as 70 crew members, which is an unusually large number even for a vessel of this size.

A large dance floor, several fireplaces, two swimming pools, and two helipads are also included onboard.

The ECLIPSE yacht interior is so large that there is even a cinema dedicated exclusively to crew members. In 2015 the interior of ECLIPSE was refitted by Blohm and Voss in Hamburg.

Specifications

The ECLIPSE yacht is the second-largest yacht in the world with a length of 162.5 meters (533 ft), a beam of 22 meters (72.2 ft), and a draft of 5.9 meters (19.4 ft).

She was built by the German shipyard Blohm & Voss and delivered to her owner in 2010.

Four MTU engines power ECLIPSE and allow her to reach top speeds of 25 knots, although her average cruising speed lies at 22 knots.

Her total volume lies at 13564 tons making her not only one of the longest but also the heaviest yachts in the world.

Like the interior of ECLIPSE, the interior was designed by Terence Disdale. According to rumors, Abramovich fitted her with an anti-paparazzi system that detects electronic light sensors from digital cameras.

However, there is no proof of this, although many newspapers report its existence.

On deck are several swimming pools and jacuzzis, and the aft of the vessel features a sizeable beach club. The yacht has a sleek design that attests to Terence Disdale’s classical style.

ECLIPSE came to fame as being the most expensive yacht ever built at the time for an approximate price of US $500 million.

She has seen further improvements since her purchase by Abramovich in 2010 and it is often widely reported that she is worth US $1.2 – $1.5 billion.

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Russian Oligarch Roman Abramovich’s Two Superyachts Are Sailing Towards Each Other in the Mediterranean

Ship tracking platforms show that the billionaire’s yachts "eclipse" and "solaris" are relocating to the mediterranean, with no port destination specified., emma reynolds, emma reynolds's most recent stories.

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Russian oligarch and billionaire Roman Abramovich is on the move—and so are his superyachts.

After being slapped with sanctions in response to Russia ’s invasion of Ukraine, the billionaire was last seen on March 14 at an airport in Israel, where he has dual citizenship, according to Reuters .

Abramovich, who is currently worth an estimated $7.1 billion, according to Forbes , appears to be moving his yachts to safer waters. His 533-foot superyacht Eclipse , normally anchored year-round in the Caribbean, has been sailing east towards the Mediterranean since February 21, according to global ship tracking platform MarineTraffic. As of Wednesday, the ship is located off the coast of Algeria and is still sailing east with no port destination specified. The yacht, estimated to be worth over $600 million, is one of the largest and most expensive in the world , and seems to be cruising towards Abramovich’s other yacht, Solaris , in the Ionian Sea.

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Roman Abramovich’s “Solaris” superyacht.  Courtesy of Lloyd Werft

The 461-foot Solaris  is currently located in the Ionian Sea off the western coast of Greece and heading south. Solaris was most recently at a port in Barcelona, where it had reportedly been receiving repairs since late 2021 . The ship left without declaring a destination. However, it’s possible both Solaris and Eclipse are heading towards each other and are even eyeing ports in Israel where Abramovich is considered safe from sanctions.

Though a long-time ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, Abramovich has denied having close ties to the Kremlin. This hasn’t stopped dozens of nations, including the US, UK and several EU countries, from implementing sanctions and asset freezes on the oligarch. The sanctions are part of a concerted multinational effort to pressure Russia’s wealthiest and most powerful individuals to help bring Russia’s war on Ukraine to an end.

Perhaps sensing the economic pressures to come, Abramovich made headlines just days after the Ukraine invasion for stating his intention to sell his beloved Chelsea Football Club in London for $2.5 billion. The billionaire said all proceeds would benefit Ukrainian refugees and “victims of the war,” which, notably, may also include Russian soldiers.

Russian oligarch and Chelsea Football Club owner Roman Abramovich appears to be seeking cover from international sanctions in Israel, where he has dual citizenship.  Associated Press

Russians own up to 10 percent of the world’s megayachts, so Abramovich is just one of many Russian billionaires who are moving their assets to avoid seizure by international authorities. This week, Italian police seized Russian oligarch Andrey Melnichenko’s 486-foot Sailing Yacht A, and earlier this month, France impounded the yacht Amore Vero , owned by Russian oil billionaire Igor Sechin. Other Russian billionaires have had their yachts impounded in other EU countries.

This isn’t the first time Russian oligarchs’ whereabouts have been made public. Florida teen Jack Sweeney, who once tracked Elon Musk’s jet, created a Twitter account —@RUOligarchJets—dedicated to tracking the private jets of Russian oligarchs, which is updated daily.

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After five years of intensive design, development and construction, Eclipse left the Blohm+Voss yard in Hamburg on the 9th December 2010, to formally take her place as the largest superyacht in the world. Managed by Blue Ocean Yacht Management, Eclipse features a diesel-electric propulsion system with generators powering rotating Azipod drives, dramatic exterior styling and a stunning interior design by London-based Terence Disdale Design, which has been responsible for all aspects of aesthetic design and layout, including the superstructure design, deck layouts, interior design and construction supervision.

Her accommodation includes an owner’s deck of 56 metres in length. The interior boasts hundreds of custom finishes exclusively developed for this project, while her deck areas include a 16 metre swimming pool, whose base can be raised to transform the area into a dance floor. The yacht can also accommodate three helicopters, one on each of the two helipads and the third in a storage hangar below the foredeck.

Eclipse was voted Motor Yacht of the Year at the World Superyacht Awards in 2011.

About ECLIPSE , brought to you by BOAT Pro

ECLIPSE, a 162.5 m Motor Yacht built in Germany and delivered in 2010, is the flagship of Blohm & Voss .

Her top speed is 21.5 kn, her cruising speed is 20.0 kn, and she boasts a maximum cruising range of 6000.0 nm at 21.0 kn, with power coming from four MTU diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 36 guests in 18 staterooms, with 66 crew members. She has a gross tonnage of 13564.0 GT and a 22.0 m beam.

She was designed by Terence Disdale , who also designed the interior. Terence Disdale has designed 42 yachts and designed the interior of 78 yachts for yachts above 24 metres.

The naval architecture was developed by Blohm & Voss , who has architected 8 other superyachts in the BOAT Pro database - she is built with a Teak deck, a Steel hull, and Aluminium superstructure.

ECLIPSE is the 3rd longest yacht in the world. She is one of 72 motor yachts longer than 100m, and, compared to similarly sized motor yachts, her cruising speed is 3.95 kn above the average, her top speed 1.64 kn above the average, and her volume 6400.49 GT above the average.

ECLIPSE is currently sailing under the Bermuda flag (along with a total of other 37 yachts). She is known to be an active superyacht and has most recently been spotted cruising near Turkey. For more information regarding ECLIPSE's movements, find out more about BOAT Pro AIS .

Specifications

• Name: ECLIPSE
• Yacht Type: Motor Yacht
• Builder: Blohm & Voss
• Naval Architect: Blohm & Voss
• Exterior Designer: Terence Disdale
• Interior Designer: Terence Disdale
• Refits: 2021

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2 superyachts owned by the Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich and worth more than $1 billion combined head east after he's sanctioned

• Abramovich's two superyachts are moving eastward after he was sanctioned.
• It's unclear where Solaris and Eclipse, worth a total of more than $1 billion, are sailing.
• Abramovich's assets were frozen on Thursday as a part of UK sanctions.

Two superyachts belonging to Roman Abramovich are heading east after the UK hit the billionaire Russian oligarch with sanctions on Thursday.

Among the sanctions imposed on Abramovich, the UK government said, was the freezing of his assets, meaning his yachts and private jets are at risk of seizure.

Abramovich's 460-foot vessel, Solaris, was just off the east coast of Italy on Friday, according to the ship-tracking site MarineTraffic . It had left a shipyard in Barcelona , Spain, on Tuesday, where it had been docked since late 2021 for repairs, Reuters reported.

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It's unclear where Solaris is sailing. MarineTraffic says the destination of its port isn't recognized. Solaris has a price tag of $600 million, according to SuperYacht Fan .

Meanwhile, Abramovich's 533-foot yacht, Eclipse, has been cruising eastward from St. Martin in the Caribbean since February 21, MarineTraffic data shows. The boat, which costs $700 million according to SuperYacht Fan , was near the west coast of Africa on Friday, MarineTraffic said.

There is also no destination port for Eclipse listed on MarineTraffic's website, so it's unclear where the superyacht is going to dock next.

After the invasion of Ukraine, sanctioned Russian oligarchs such as Abramovich have sought to move their yachts  and  private jets across the world in an attempt to protect their assets.

Abramovich, who Bloomberg estimates has a net worth of $13.7 billion , is the owner of Chelsea FC. He had announced last week that he was selling the club, but the UK's sanctions mean he can't go ahead with the sale.

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Roman Abramovich’s Yachts: Everything You Want To Know

You may be familiar with the jet setting lifestyle of Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, owner of the Chelsea football club, who has an estimated net worth of over $8 billion. He’s not just rich, he’s a man who loves yachts and loves them a lot. Not only does he own the Eclipse, the most expensive yacht in the world, he owns 15 other yachts that we know of. Clearly this is a man who enjoys ship life. Other Russian oligarchs like private jets, Abramovich likes private boats.

Up until 2023 it was believed Abramovich owned a mere 6 vessels, but new information bumps that number up significantly. Let’s take a look at some of the most notable examples of the vessels in the fleet and what we know about them.

The Eclipse Yacht

Roman Abramovich has the distinction of owning the most expensive yacht in the world, the Eclipse. It was built in Hamburg by Blohm and Voss in 2010 and was recently seen in Turkey where it is likely avoiding international sanctions against Russian billionaires which would confiscate the vessel.

How Expensive is the Roman Abramovich Yacht Eclipse?

The superyacht Eclipse is obviously the flagship of Abramovich’s fleet and it’s believed the initial construction price was $427 million. Though that’s obviously very expensive it wouldn’t technically make this the most expensive yacht in the world. However, rumor has it that Abramovich had custom additions put on the yacht including a security system fit for a small army, which boosted the total cost to $1.5 billion.

How Big is the Eclipse Yacht

For some years, the Eclipse was the world’s largest yacht at 533-feet. Other yachts have since surpassed that length but obviously it’s still an absolutely enormous vessel. It has a gross tonnage of 13,000 GT and a beam of just over 72 feet. It is the largest vessel Abramovich owns.

How Fast is the Eclipse Yacht?

It’s believed the Eclipse has a top speed of about 22 knots. This is provided by four MTU 20V 1163 TB93 diesel engines.

What is the Eclipse Like on the Inside?

The interior of the Eclipse is well guarded and not many people have been on board. That said, there are some things we do know about the vessel and what Abramovich has had installed. To start with, the yacht has not one but two helicopter landing pads. It also has its own mini submersible and previously it had been reported that there were 3 landing boats but now we know that he has 8 support vessels of various kinds for the yacht.

There are quarters to house as many as 70 crew members making this yacht essentially a private cruise ship in terms of staffing and amenities. There is room for 36 guests as well.

It is rumored that the yacht has two swimming pools on board including one that is nearly 50 feet long, plus several hot tubs scattered throughout. The large pool has a retractable glass sunroof. The 18 guest rooms are said to contain full home 6-foot cinema screens for private viewings. For a group experience, the bow of the ship is also a cinema with a massive screen. Each guest room, of which there are 24, has its own jacuzzi and private security system.

There are spas on board and a disco as well, and unusual amenities like a full size pantry and gullwing doors that pull up to reveal a barbecue and pizza oven. The yacht’s guests can also enjoy an 830 square foot gym, massage room, beauty salon, beach club, sauna and portholes that offer a view inside the large pool. There’s even a wood-burning fire pit on the main deck for campfires. 

The ceiling in the 5,000 square foot master suite opens like a retractable dome in a sports stadium to give passengers a view of the night sky if they so desire.

The security on Eclipse is one of the things that gets talked about a lot and what is known about it is impressive. To start, the glass is all bulletproof. The hull is armor plated to prevent damage from direct attacks. There is an anti-paparazzi system installed which prevents digital cameras from taking photos when they’re aimed at the vessel, which is why you’ll see so few photos of it when it’s in use. Finally, there’s a sophisticated missile detection system that is able to detect missile attacks and launch its own counter attacks. So, yes, this yacht apparently has missile launchers on board, something usually reserved for military vessels.

What Other Yachts or Launch Boats Does Abramovich Own?

Journalists recently discovered that the Russian billionaire owns 16 yachts , about 10 more than previously known. Eight of these vessels are support ships for the Eclipse which was previously thought to just have three launch boats as support. These are the remaining 7.

The second most expensive yacht in Abramovich’s fleet, Solaris is 458 feet long, 11,011 tons and had a reported price tag of $475 million. Other sources say this is actually a $600 million vessel. It has room for 36 passengers in 18 cabins as well as crew quarters to handle up to 60 crew members at a time. These are just estimates based on the size and design of the yacht, however, as Abramovich is notoriously private when it comes to secure matters like these. This large yacht may have swimming pools inside and other amenities but little has been published in any yacht report about those features.

The top speed of the yacht is listed at 18 to 20 knots with a cruising speed of 14 knots and it features not just a pool but a helicopter landing pad on deck. Propulsion is provided by the largest ABB Azipod propulsion package ever used in a private yacht.

It’s said to contain over 2,000 square meters of glass including the largest panes ever used in a superyacht. 

The yacht, at last report, was moored in Turkey where it is not subject to international sanctions that have been levied against the Russian oligarch.

This would be Abramovich’s third most expensive yacht coming in at $38 million and 180 feet long. Designed by Amels, it is sometimes available for charter and can house 12 guests and 13 crew in its quarters. The yacht has a top speed of 15.5 knots and a range of 4,500 nautical miles The cruising speed is 13 knots.

The Garcon is actually larger than the Halo but costs less. It reportedly had a $20 million price tag but clocked in at 220 feet. Made by Damen Yachting, this is sometimes used as a support vessel as it was by its previous owner. It has space for 21 people in total.

The Garcon is a much faster yacht than some of its size, powered by 4 Caterpillar engines, that can reach 25 knots at full throttle. Normal cruising speed is 18 knots.

This is a $1 million Bluegame yacht that measures just a fraction of his larger boats, coming in at 40 feet.

Little is known about this particular yacht other than it measures 80 feet and was reported to have cost Abramovich $3 million.

This 162-foot, $11 million yacht has been moored in La Ciotat on the French Riviera since 2022. It was built in 1998 and features a 27.5 foot beam.  The vessel is powered by Paxman + Textron engines which produce 3442 hp each giving Sussurro a maximum speed of 46 knots and a cruising speed of 20 knots making it one of the fastest yachts of its size in the world.

Moored in the Netherlands, this yacht measures 164-foot and reportedly cost $30 million. Powered by MTU diesel engines the vessel has a top speed of 23 knots. There is room on board for 12 guests in 5 staterooms, as well as a crew of 9.

The Bottom Line

Roman Abramovich owns the world’s most expensive yacht, the Eclipse, as well as many other yachts that, until recently, were hidden assets. Because of international sanctions against Russian oligarchs due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, many of his yachts are subject to seizure in various countries so ownership of them was hard to determine. Even now it’s speculated he may own many others.

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Antigua confirms Roman Abramovich owns two yachts moored on island

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Arash Massoudi , Robert Smith , Cynthia O’Murchu and Laura Hughes in London

Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter.

The Antiguan government has established that two yachts moored in the Caribbean island belong to Roman Abramovich, confirming a Financial Times investigation that revealed the vessels appeared to be owned by the sanctions-hit oligarch.

The FT reported this week that boats docked in Antigua’s Falmouth Harbour were owned by a British Virgin Island company with ties to Abramovich, prompting the Caribbean nation to call on the UK government to help confirm whether the oligarch was their ultimate owner.

In a letter to the British High Commissioner to Barbados seen by the FT, Antigua’s minister of foreign affairs Paul Chet Greene said the island’s government had requested information on whether the owner of the BVI company, Wenham Overseas Limited, is on Britain’s sanctions list, in light of “persistent allegations by the Financial Times that the vessels could be owned by Mr Roman Abramovich”.

The letter then confirmed that the British High Commission had provided Antiguan authorities with a letter “from the Financial Investigation Agency of the British Virgin Islands which states the beneficial owner of Wenham Overseas Ltd is Roman Abramovich”.

Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea Football Club, has been placed under sanctions by the UK and the EU, though not by the US, for his allegedly close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.

While Antigua said this month that it would enforce all US, EU and UK sanctions on Russian entities and individuals, the island nation initially struggled to verify the ownership of the two boats.

Antigua’s confirmation of Abramovich’s ownership of the yachts raises the prospect that they could be seized . The letter noted that Antigua “will provide full assistance to the Government of the United Kingdom” if it receives a request under the two nations’ Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty.

British officials confirmed the government was in contact with the authorities of Antigua and Barbuda and was providing assistance. The UK said it would not comment on discussions.

The yachts in question — called Halo and Garçon — are worth about $38mn and $20mn respectively, according to valuation service VesselsValue.

Halo was built for Australian billionaire James Packer and was originally named EJI after the initials of his three children. However, the casino heir put the yacht up for sale a few months after it was delivered in 2018, reportedly because it was “too small”.

Garçon is a 67-metre explorer vessel designed to carry helicopters and an “armada of water toys”, and was built for Ukrainian billionaire Yuriy Kosiuk, who sold the so-called support yacht last year.

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International Edition

Vitesse docked 18 points, relegated amid probe of Abramovich ties

• ESPN News Services

Dutch club Vitesse were docked 18 points on Friday and will be relegated from the Netherlands' top division while under investigation for ties to sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, the former owner of Chelsea .

Vitesse said in a statement they will not appeal the punishment imposed by a licensing panel at the Dutch soccer federation. It dropped the team into the second tier for the first time in 35 years.

- Stream on ESPN+: LaLiga, Bundesliga, NWSL more (U.S.)

Vitesse already were in danger of relegation before their points total was cut to -1 in a distant last place in the Eredivisie standings.

The Dutch federation (KNVB) said Vitesse "repeatedly failed" to meet the demands of its financial license.

Vitesse and their Russian owners had longstanding ties to Chelsea, which Abramovich owned for nearly 20 years. The British government forced a sale of Chelsea after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

The KNVB said there were "indications that that Abramovich "has or has had" involvement in the running of Vitesse along with "risks" that sanctions had been violated.

In March 2022, Vitesse were playing in the Europa Conference League round of 16 against eventual champions Roma. The Dutch club's fortunes have declined since, and former Netherlands and Barcelona midfielder Phillip Cocu resigned as coach in November.

An investigation by British newspaper The Guardian last year alleged Abramovich secretly funded Vitesse with more than $100 million.

Chelsea under Abramovich's ownership loaned a long list of players to Vitesse over several years, including Nemanja Matic and Mason Mount .

Information from The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Threatening ally of Roman Abramovich would be ‘a suicide mission’, agent tells court

• Saif Alrubie denies intimidating Marina Granovskaia
• Kia Joorabchian left UK before due to give evidence, jury told

The football agent accused of sending an intimidating email to a Chelsea FC executive has said it would be “a suicide mission” to threaten anyone connected to the club’s former owner Roman Abramovich , a court has heard.

Saif Alrubie is charged with sending an “electronic communication with intent to cause distress or anxiety” to the former Chelsea director of football Marina Granovskaia – as he attempted to collect £300,000 in commissions he believed he was owed in 2022.

He told the jury: “She was the right hand of Roman Abramovich, one of the biggest businessmen in the world. I don’t think I’d be stupid enough to threaten anyone – let alone someone [connected] with the might of Roman Abramovich … That would just be me on a suicide mission.”

The comments were made on the second day of Alrubie’s trial at Southwark crown court into allegations he is guilty of the offence contrary to the Malicious Communications Act 1988.

Earlier in the day the court heard how another well-known agent, Kia Joorabchian, had secretly flown to the US the night before he was due to give evidence in the high-profile criminal trial.

Jury members had been told to expect to hear key evidence from Joorabchian on Tuesday. However, on Wednesday they were informed by prosecution counsel that Joorabchian had taken a private jet to the US on Monday night without informing the court.

Joorabchian had been in touch with a police officer connected to the case on Tuesday, when he claimed he could not give evidence because he was unwell.

He was asked to provide a note from his doctor and, after police made “further repeated unanswered calls” to Joorabchian, the football agent then informed an officer that he was no longer in the country, the jury was told.

The development came after the prosecution had set out on Tuesday how, in May 2022, Granovskaia had received an intimidating email from Alrubie as he pursued a £300,000 payment for what he claims was his role in the transfer of the France defender Kurt Zouma from Chelsea to West Ham in 2021.

Alrubie’s message said: “I’m sure you’ve heard the story about your other friend Kia when he owed me money for a year and how he ended up paying it. Wouldn’t want you to be in the same situation just because you have a personal issue with me.’’

The message is alleged to refer to a supposed incident in 2013 when Joorabchian claims to have been confronted by about 12 debt collectors at his office – and separately relieved of his expensive watch at a ­restaurant – as part of an effort to put pressure on him into repaying money allegedly owed to Alrubie.

However, the court was also told how Joorabchian had complained to the police about the alleged incident, but that they could find no evidence that he had had his watch taken from him.

“The police have managed to find a police report dated 7 February 2013 when Mr Joorabchian made an initial allegation that he been apprehended by some men in a restaurant,” prosecutor Arizuna Asante told jurors, as he read out a series of facts agreed by both the prosecution and the defence. “The police thoroughly investigated that incident and the could find no link between that incident and the defendant. Mr Joorabchian never mentioned the name Saif Alrubie to the police at the time and Mr Alrubie’s name does not feature anywhere in the crime report.

“After making his allegation, the police attended the restaurant in which there were numerous CCTV cameras. Those cameras were checked and did not reveal the incident that Mr Joorabchian had reported.”

Earlier, the jury had been read the transcript of the police’s interview of Alrubie, after they had arrested him in September 2022 as he arrived in London from Dubai in order to watch the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II with his family.

After hours in a police cell he told officers that he felt “violated” and was being treated like the drug lord “Pablo Escobar” – having had “no sleep for 24 hours”.

“I was born and bred in London and I love this country,” Alrubie told police in an interview commencing just minutes before midnight. “I was hoping to come in this morning to be able to watch the funeral like everyone else in the world and I wanted to do it with my mum and dad.”

At another point during the interview, he said: “[Joorabchian] owed [me] about £50,000 for a year … He was spotted having dinner with the Brazilian football team and one of my old associates, no longer, went up to him and Kia then … because he knew he owed the money he said: ‘OK I’m gonna pay, I’m gonna pay, I’m gonna pay’. But obviously Kia’s been dodging and avoiding paying for a while, so he ended up handing over his watch voluntarily.”

Alrubie denied to the court that he had made “any threat of violence – not with Kia or anyone else. I’m guilty of sending an angry email.”

The case continues.

• Football agents
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