Chelsea FC is on the verge of being sold and taken over by a new investor. During the night, the reigning Champions League winners confirmed corresponding media reports.
According to these reports, Chelsea FC have agreed on a deal worth 4.25 billion pounds (around 5 billion euros) with a group of investors led by American entrepreneur Todd Boehly. However, the takeover is subject to the pending approvals of the Premier League and the British government. The Premier League club has announced that the sale could be completed by the end of May.
The reason for the sale are the sanctions imposed by Great Britain because of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine, which also affected the assets of the previous Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. The club has therefore been up for sale since March. The government wants to ensure that the Russian oligarch does not personally profit from the sale. The latter had announced that he would donate the proceeds from the sale.
100 per cent of the proceeds of the sale are to be donated
Three consortia had submitted bids at last count. In the end, the group around Boehly, who also owns the US baseball team Los Angeles Dodgers, was chosen.
According to the club’s statement, 2.5 billion pounds (three billion euros) are to be transferred to a frozen account whose transactions are monitored by the British government. Here, as confirmed by Abramovich, 100 per cent of the proceeds are to be donated. A further £1.75 billion (two billion euros) is to be invested directly in the club with coach Thomas Tuchel.
“I have heard there is a preferred bidder and things are going well,” Tuchel had said as recently as Friday. “Clarity is the best thing. When the situation is clear, we are able to act and make decisions. “
