Chelsea Football Club, a prominent name in the world of football, is facing potential changes in its ownership structure. Chairman Todd Boehly is reportedly considering selling his shares after a £1.2 billion transfer spend since taking over the club in 2022.
The club was plunged into instability when previous owner Roman Abramovich was forced to relinquish control due to his assets being frozen following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. This was largely attributed to Abramovich's links with President Vladimir Putin.
A consortium led by Boehly then took over Chelsea for £4.25 billion, putting the club into an uncertain financial situation. Since their arrival, they have spent over £1.2 billion in the transfer market and secured multiple players on lucrative long-term contracts - four times more than what Liverpool has spent during the same period.
Ownership structure and potential changes
Despite being the public face of Chelsea ownership, Boehly isn't actually the majority shareholder; that title belongs to Clearlake Capital who own 61.5 percent of the club while Boehly owns just under 13 percent.
According to reports, there has been a deterioration in relations between Behdad Eghbali (Clearlake co-founder) and Todd Boehly recently which could potentially lead to significant changes within Chelsea's ownership structure.
While both parties are reportedly assessing whether they can buy each other out, Sky Sports maintains that Clearlake "are not under any pressure to sell" their shares despite these rumors.
The road ahead for Chelsea FC
Despite this upheaval at board level, Clearlake believes that they now have "the right structure and squad" in place for future success at Chelsea FC after last season’s progress under Mauricio Pochettino who left 'by mutual consent' after just one year in charge.
Leicester manager Enzo Maresca was brought in as a replacement, along with 10 other players on permanent deals. This includes Pedro Neto and Joao Felix, both of whom have been signed for seven-year contracts. However, the pressure is on for Maresca to deliver results quickly under this new ownership structure.
Chelsea FC vs Liverpool at Anfield on October 20th, a match that could prove pivotal in setting the tone for the rest of their season. The future of Chelsea FC hangs in balance as Todd Boehly considers selling his shares amidst financial uncertainty and strained relationships within the club's ownership. Despite these challenges, there remains optimism about the team's potential under new management and signings. Only time will tell how these changes will impact one of football’s most storied clubs.
