Seven Football Stars Dragged into Andorran Watch Smuggling Investigation
Seven high-profile footballers have been reportedly implicated in a significant watch-smuggling case originating from Andorra, according to Spanish media outlet elDiario.es. The players involved include Real Madrid defender Dani Carvajal, former Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey, Santi Cazorla, Giovani Lo Celso, Cesar Azpilicueta, Juan Bernat, and Manchester City legend David Silva. All are alleged to have purchased luxury watches that were obtained through smuggling operations.
Judicial Request for Player Questioning
Andorran judge Joan Carles Moynat has formally requested assistance from Spanish authorities to question the footballers about the purchase, delivery, and transport of the watches they acquired. The Civil Guard, one of Spain's national law enforcement agencies, has already initiated contact with some of the players as part of the ongoing investigation. This legal move underscores the seriousness of the case and the international cooperation required to unravel the details.
Main Suspect and Alleged Crimes
The central figure in this case is Diego GC, who was placed in provisional imprisonment in Andorra in October 2025. He faces charges of smuggling and money laundering, crimes that could potentially result in an eight-year prison sentence if convicted. Diego GC is specifically accused of evading his customs obligations concerning the luxury watches, which involved using various methods to avoid paying Value Added Tax (VAT) on their sales.
Complex Smuggling Operation Uncovered
Rather than selling the watches directly to the players in Spain, a Spanish company linked to Diego GC imported the timepieces to an Andorran company in which he held a stake. The subsequent sales were then conducted from Andorra. Judge Moynat has suggested that the only plausible motive for this intricate operation was financial gain for the suspect through VAT deductions by both his Andorran and Spanish companies. This scheme allegedly allowed for significant tax evasion on high-value transactions.
Additional Parties Under Scrutiny
In addition to the seven footballers, the judge also intends to question seven Spanish individuals or companies that sold the watches to the Andorran firm, which then resold them to the players. The footballers purchased the watches, primarily Rolex and Patek Philippe models, from Diego GC's Andorran company instead of buying directly from the original manufacturers, further complicating the supply chain.
Financial Details and Customs Violations
ElDiario.es reported that Thomas Partey spent the most on watches during the period under investigation, with the former Arsenal midfielder allegedly paying €415,000 (approximately £361,060) for three Patek Philippe models. The investigation also revealed that when the watches were transported from Andorra to Spain, the mandatory export declaration was not made at customs, a clear violation of regulations.
Furthermore, when Diego GC and his partner were apprehended by customs agents in September 2025, they were found wearing watches with a combined value of €104,000 (about £90,482). The sales of these watches had been conducted from a Spanish company linked to the suspect to his Andorran company, yet again without proper export declaration.
Overall Scale of the Alleged Smuggling
Diego GC is accused of importing 38 watches from Andorra, with a total value of €1.35 million (approximately £1.17 million), all of which he allegedly failed to declare to the authorities. This case highlights the intricate methods used in luxury goods smuggling and the involvement of high-profile individuals in such operations. The ongoing probe continues to develop as authorities seek to clarify the roles of all parties involved.
