Chelsea co owner Todd Boehly is reportedly on the verge of selling his stake in the club, a development that could leave Behdad Eghbali’s Clearlake Capital with almost complete control of the Premier League giants.
Boehly and fellow minority shareholder Mark Walter are understood to be progressing with plans to sell their shares to Clearlake. Boehly, Walter and Hansjörg Wyss collectively hold about 38.5 percent of Chelsea, while Clearlake currently owns 61.5 percent.
If the proposed transaction is completed, Clearlake’s ownership could rise to about 99.9 percent, effectively placing the club under Eghbali and his investment group’s control...READ THE FULL ARTICLE HERE .
Boehly became the public face of Chelsea’s £2.5 billion takeover in 2022 and initially played a prominent role in the club’s sporting decisions. However, his involvement in the day to day running of the football operation has reduced in recent years, with Eghbali taking a more active role.
The potential sale could also allow Boehly and his partners to make a profit on their original investment. The ownership group purchased Chelsea for £2.5 billion, while committing a further £1.75 billion toward investment in areas including the stadium, academy and other club operations.
Talks over the ownership structure have reportedly been ongoing for about two years amid tensions between the different sides of the consortium. Under the original ownership agreement, shareholders were restricted from selling their stakes to outside parties, giving Clearlake a significant advantage in any internal ownership transfer.
Boehly is expected to leave after serving as one of the most visible figures in Chelsea’s post Roman Abramovich era. His potential departure would mark a major change in the club’s ownership structure and could bring an end to the unusual shared control arrangement that has existed since the 2022 takeover.
For Chelsea supporters, the development could have major implications for the club’s future direction, particularly regarding long term investment, Stamford Bridge and the overall management of the football operation.
If the deal is completed, Eghbali and Clearlake will have significantly greater authority over Chelsea, potentially bringing an end to the power sharing arrangement that has shaped the club since its change of ownership.
