Chelsea

Chelsea

Premier League • England

Chelsea publish statement with Todd Boehly takeover almost complete

Todd Boehly Chelsea May 2022

Chelsea expect the sale of the club to be completed on Monday after confirming an agreement is in place with Todd Boehly.

The sports franchise will be a record deal of £4.25bn. US magnate Boehly, part of a Clearlake Capital consortium, will take control from Roman Abramovich.

A statement on Chelsea’s website read: “Chelsea confirm the agreement to sell the club to the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium with the transaction expected to be completed on Monday.”

Boehly had been confirmed as the preferred bidder by the Raine Group, who have overseen the sale. There were other options with consortiums fronted by Stephen Pagliuca and Sir Martin Broughton also in the hunt.

Ineos Grenadiers owner and Britain’s richest man Sir Jim Ratcliffe also made a late play for the club with a £4.25bn bid.

However it is Boehly and fellow Dodgers owner Mark Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss who will officially take control next week.

The news will come as a huge relief to Thomas Tuchel who has already admitted he is facing a major “rebuild”.

The Blues look set to lose Antonio Rudiger and Andreas Christensen on free transfers.

Marcos Alonso and Cesar Azpilicueta could also follow to Barcelona, as Tuchel watches on helplessly. And Chelsea’s situation means their domestic and European rivals have stolen a march on them.

 

It’s a fact that Tuchel, who says he has delayed his holiday, is well aware of.

Tuchel up for challenge

“You ask many times if we have a delay in approaching players and making plans; of course, a huge delay,” said Tuchel earlier this month.

“We are affected by it, players are going out. We are rebuilding, not improving the squad. This is always challenging but we are up for the challenge.

“I don’t know where we are from day one. What I can promise is that I will be here – if I can promise that. I will be here with full energy and positive energy no matter what.

“We will still work for Chelsea and I refuse to think of negative scenarios. We will be competitive, on which level we will see.

“On how the delay and sanctions will affect us, there is a risk.

“It will be very challenging to make up for the disadvantage, given the situation of the other two teams, City and Liverpool, who are already improving the squad and set one benchmark after the other in all aspects of the game.”

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