Seven prominent footballers have reportedly become embroiled in a significant watch smuggling and money laundering case centred in Andorra, according to a detailed report from Spanish outlet elDiario.es. The players implicated include Real Madrid star Dani Carvajal, former Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla, Giovani Lo Celso, Thomas Partey, Cesar Azpilicueta, Juan Bernat, and Manchester City legend David Silva.
Judge Requests Spanish Assistance to Question Players
Andorran judge Joan Carles Moynat has formally requested assistance from Spanish authorities to question the footballers about their involvement. The judge seeks to uncover precise details regarding the 'purchase, delivery and transport' of the luxury watches they acquired. The Civil Guard, one of Spain's national law enforcement agencies, is said to have already initiated contact with some of the players as part of this cross-border investigation.
Core Allegations Against Main Suspect Diego GC
The investigation revolves around the main suspect, Diego GC, who was placed in provisional imprisonment in Andorra in October. He faces serious charges of smuggling and money laundering, which could potentially lead to an eight-year prison sentence if convicted. The crux of the allegations is that Diego GC systematically evaded customs obligations concerning high-end watches, primarily Rolex and Patek Philippe models, by avoiding the payment of Value Added Tax (VAT) on their sales.
The elaborate scheme involved a Spanish company linked to Diego GC importing the watches to an Andorran company in which he held a stake. Subsequently, the watches were sold from Andorra to the footballers, rather than directly in Spain. Judge Moynat suggests the only 'plausible motive' for this complex operation was financial gain through VAT deductions exploited by both his Andorran and Spanish companies.
Footballers' Purchases and Financial Details
The footballers purchased these luxury watches from Diego GC's Andorran firm, not from the original manufacturers. According to the report, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey spent the most, splashing approximately €415,000 (around £361,060) on three Patek Philippe models during the period under investigation. The total value of watches imported by Diego GC from Andorra is alleged to be 38 timepieces worth €1.35 million (approximately £1.17 million), none of which were properly declared to authorities.
Further complicating the case, when the watches were transported from Andorra to Spain, the mandatory export declarations were not made at customs. In a separate incident in September 2025, customs agents apprehended Diego GC and his partner wearing watches valued at a total of €104,000 (around £90,482) on their wrists. The sales of those specific watches had also been made from his Spanish company to his Andorran company without being declared as an export.
Broader Scope of the Judicial Investigation
Beyond the seven footballers, Judge Moynat also aims to question seven Spanish individuals or companies that sold the watches to the Andorran firm, which then resold them to the players. A fifteenth individual, an undisclosed woman, is also involved; she received a full refund of €79,000 (approximately £68,731) just three days after purchasing a watch, adding another layer to the inquiry.
The judge is determined to speak with all the footballers to gather comprehensive information about their purchasing processes and the precise nature of their transactions. This case highlights significant issues of cross-border financial crime, tax evasion, and the involvement of high-profile sports figures in complex smuggling operations.
