Chelsea have confirmed that an external law firm will carry out an investigation into allegations of historical sexual abuse by a person, now deceased, who was employed in the 1970s.
A club statement read: "Chelsea Football Club has retained an external law firm to carry out an investigation concerning an individual employed by the club in the 1970s, who is now deceased.
"The club has also contacted the FA to ensure that all possible assistance is provided as part of their wider investigation.
"This will include providing the FA with any relevant information arising out of the club's investigation."
The announcement follows a report in the Daily Telegraph which said a former youth-team footballer had accused the late Eddie Heath, who was Chelsea's chief scout, of abuse.
The Telegraph report alleged that Chelsea paid off the victim after he had threatened to go public with his allegations.
It added that the payment, which it said had been made in the last three years, was agreed on condition that the victim, his family and lawyers were banned from talking about the alleged abuse.
Chelsea's investigation is the latest repercussion of the historical sex abuse scandal that has rocked English football over the past month since several ex-footballers went public with accusations against Barry Bennell.
Bennell, a former youth coach at Manchester City and Crewe Alexandra who was given a four-year sentence in 1994 for raping a boy, was on Tuesday charged with eight offences of sexual assault in the wake of the latest allegations.