Chelsea's ownership group has set out its vision for the club after confirming that Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their combined 25 percent stake, handing Clearlake Capital complete control of the Premier League side.
The sale, revealed on Wednesday, ends the involvement of the two American businessmen who were part of the BlueCo consortium that bought Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in May 2022. Clearlake Capital co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano now hold considerably greater influence over the club's operations, while Hansjorg Wyss remains, in the club's words, an "important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group."
In an official statement released on Thursday and reported by football.london, the ownership group reflected on the change and looked ahead. "Yesterday marked an important milestone and the beginning of the next chapter for Chelsea. We thank our departing partners and are grateful for their contributions to the club. We move forward with a shared sense of purpose, clear direction and confidence in what comes next," the statement read.
'Our Ambition Is Clear'
The group was direct about what it wants from the club going forward. "Our ambition is clear: to compete at the highest level, to win major trophies, and to build sustained success. Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years. While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your club. We are committed to listening, and building a Chelsea you can be proud of, on and off the pitch," the statement continued.
On footballing priorities, the ownership added: "Success on the pitch will always be our first priority. That means competing to win the Premier League and other major trophies and strengthening the club commercially so that we can invest consistently in the team. We will also maintain our focus on Chelsea's future infrastructure - investing thoughtfully and pursuing the right long-term solutions for generations to come."
They closed by acknowledging the scale of the task ahead. "We are ambitious about what Chelsea can achieve, and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with leading this great club. We will keep working to move Chelsea forward - together."
Boehly's Farewell
Responding to the announcement, Boehly struck a reflective tone about his time in charge. "It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Chelsea Football Club. I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans," he said.
He also praised his working relationship with the remaining ownership group. "I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club. I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake's leadership."
