Todd Boehly and Mark Walter are in talks to sell their stakes in Chelsea to majority owner Clearlake Capital, according to a report from The Financial Times. The deal would value the Premier League club at more than £5bn.
Consortium split
Boehly, Chelsea's chairman and co-controlling owner, and board member Walter each hold a 12.8 per cent stake in the club. Clearlake, a California-based private equity firm, owns 61.5 per cent, with the remaining 38.5 per cent split equally between the pair and 90-year-old Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.
It is unknown whether Wyss also plans to sell. The talks come just over four years after the BlueCo consortium, including Boehly, Walter and Clearlake, purchased Chelsea for £2.5bn, with a further £1.75bn pledged in investment.
On-pitch struggles
Since the May 2022 takeover, Chelsea have spent nearly £1.5bn on player transfer fees but have not won the Premier League or Champions League. The club has also had six different permanent managers, with Xabi Alonso appointed in May following the sacking of Liam Rosenior and an interim spell for Calum McFarlane.
Alonso's side have spent £348m on signings while recouping £138m. They begin their season away to Fulham next Monday, having won three of their six pre-season games.
Fan discontent
Chelsea's ownership model has faced fierce scrutiny since the takeover. Fans have been angered by ticket prices and have spoken out against BlueCo's multi-club model.
Among the club's recent signings are Danny Welbeck and Jordan Henderson, the latter arriving on a free transfer. Both players are 35 and 36 respectively, signalling a change of approach. Alonso told Men In Blazers: "For sure, we need to have the right balance in everything. The right balance in physicality, the right balance in talent and experience. You need to have the right balance in players you need to develop, and to develop this maturity."
