Todd Boehly has officially stepped down as chairman of Chelsea Football Club after selling his stake in the Premier League side to Clearlake Capital.
The development marks the end of Boehly’s involvement with Chelsea, more than four years after he emerged as the public face of the consortium that bought the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022. Read original
In a statement shared by football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, Boehly described his time as Chelsea chairman as an honour and thanked those who contributed to the club during his tenure.
“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said.
He also thanked the club’s players, coaches, leadership, staff and supporters while expressing confidence in Chelsea’s future under Clearlake’s leadership.
Boehly sells Chelsea stake
Boehly and fellow co-owner Mark Walter have agreed to sell their combined stake in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital in a deal worth about £950 million, with the transaction valuing the club at approximately £5 billion including debt.
Clearlake, which was already the majority shareholder, will consequently take greater control of the club. Reports indicate that Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss will retain a stake in Chelsea.
Boehly had been chairman since the consortium completed its takeover of Chelsea in 2022. He was initially heavily involved in football operations before gradually taking a less hands-on role as Clearlake's influence increased.
What Boehly said before leaving
In his farewell statement, Boehly praised his partnership with Clearlake and said the ownership group had made collective decisions and investments aimed at supporting Chelsea's short- and long-term future.
He added that he was confident the club was positioned for continued success under Clearlake's leadership.
Clearlake co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano are expected to take greater control of the club following the ownership change.
A major change at Stamford Bridge
Boehly's departure represents a significant change in Chelsea's ownership structure.
The American businessman became closely associated with the club after the £4.25 billion takeover in 2022. Since then, Chelsea have undergone major changes in their playing squad, recruitment strategy and management structure.
The club have also continued to invest heavily in players and infrastructure during the post-Abramovich era.
With Boehly now leaving, attention will turn to how Clearlake manages Chelsea's next phase, including decisions surrounding the club's stadium, training facilities, squad development and long-term football strategy.
The ownership transition is expected to be completed by the end of 2026, according to the Financial Times.