Clearlake Capital has acquired full control of Chelsea Football Club after chairman Todd Boehly, director Mark Walter and investor Hansjorg Wyss sold their stakes, ending an ownership structure that dated back to the 2022 purchase from Roman Abramovich.
Key facts
- Clearlake Capital has taken full control of Chelsea, according to the BBC.
- Todd Boehly, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss sold their stakes in the club.
- Sky Sports reported the deal for the 25% stake values Chelsea at £5bn.
- Clearlake previously owned 61.5% of the club, according to The Guardian.
- Boehly leaves his role as chair following the deal, The Guardian reported.
Clearlake Capital has acquired full control of Chelsea Football Club after co-owners Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, along with investor Hansjorg Wyss, sold their stakes, according to the BBC. The move ends a shared ownership arrangement that had been in place since the club changed hands in 2022.
According to The Guardian, Boehly and Walter were two of the investors who partnered with Clearlake to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in a sale mandated by the UK government in May 2022. Clearlake had previously owned 61.5% of the club, with Boehly, Walter and Wyss holding the remaining shares.
Sky Sports first reported on 10 September that Boehly and Walter had agreed to sell their 25% stake to majority shareholders Clearlake Capital in a deal that values Chelsea at £5bn.
The Guardian reported that American chair Boehly leaves his role after the deal was secured, and quoted him saying he is “confident that Chelsea is well positioned.”
The change in ownership comes as Walter faces scrutiny elsewhere in his business interests. According to CNBC, two of Walter’s insurance companies face federal criminal and civil investigations into the accounting of roughly $21 billion in financial transactions.
With the completion of the deal, Clearlake Capital, a private equity firm, becomes the sole controlling owner of the London club, consolidating the fragmented ownership structure that had existed since Abramovich’s departure.
Why it matters
Chelsea is one of the world's most prominent football clubs, and control by a single private equity owner shapes decisions on spending, management and long-term strategy. The transition follows the government-mandated sale of the club in 2022 and marks a significant shift in how one of the Premier League's biggest sides is governed.
Frequently asked questions
Who now controls Chelsea Football Club?
According to the BBC, Clearlake Capital has acquired full control of Chelsea after Todd Boehly, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss sold their stakes.
How much is Chelsea valued at in the deal?
Sky Sports reported that the sale of the 25% stake values Chelsea at £5bn.
What happens to Todd Boehly?
The Guardian reported that Boehly leaves his role as chair after the deal was secured, and said he is confident Chelsea is well positioned.