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Clearlake Capital has moved to take full control of Chelsea after agreeing to acquire the ownership interests of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, bringing an end to the partnership that has overseen the Premier League club since its £4.25 billion takeover in 2022.
Chelsea confirmed that affiliates of Clearlake will acquire Boehly’s stake, while Hansjörg Wyss will remain a significant stakeholder and partner within the ownership group. The transaction will make Clearlake the club’s sole controlling owner.
Boehly, who served as Chelsea chairman, will leave his position as part of the transition. The American businessman played a prominent role in the takeover and subsequent running of the club, with the ownership group investing heavily in the men’s and women’s teams, academy, training facilities, medical resources and wider sporting infrastructure.
“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said. “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.”
Boehly added that he had valued his partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group and was confident Chelsea was “well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”
Clearlake co-founders Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano thanked Boehly for his contribution, saying the company had been Chelsea’s majority owner since 2022 and would now focus on continued investment in infrastructure, sporting performance and player development.
Chelsea stressed that the change in ownership would not affect the club’s day-to-day operations, leadership or strategic direction.
In a separate message to supporters, the ownership group said its ambitions remained centred on competing for the Premier League and other major trophies while strengthening the club commercially and continuing investment in infrastructure.
“Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this Club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years,” the ownership said. “While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your Club.”
The ownership transition also extends to Chelsea's multi-club structure, with Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace confirming that its current majority shareholders will acquire the stakes held by both Boehly and Walter.
Strasbourg said Hansjörg Wyss would retain a significant position as a stakeholder and partner, while the transaction would give the current majority shareholders full equity control of the French club.
Boehly had been part of Strasbourg's ownership group since 2023, with the club highlighting investments in its men's and women's teams, academy, recruitment and sporting infrastructure during that period.
Strasbourg's men's side reached the semi-finals of the UEFA Conference League last season, while the women's team secured promotion to the Arkema Première Ligue for the first time in the club's history two seasons ago before finishing seventh in the top flight last term.
The club also pointed to the redevelopment of the Stade de la Meinau, which has increased capacity to around 32,000 and modernised the stadium while retaining its traditional identity.
Racing president Marc Keller said the ownership change would not alter the club's strategy or operations.
“This change in the ownership structure will change neither our strategy nor the way the Club operates,” Keller said. “We will continue to work together to build a Racing capable of competing at the highest level over the long term, while remaining deeply rooted in Strasbourg and Alsace.”
Both Chelsea and Strasbourg said their existing management and sporting structures would remain in place, with the respective ownership groups continuing to pursue their existing long-term strategies.
The changes mark a significant reshaping of the ownership structure established after Boehly and Clearlake joined forces to acquire Chelsea in 2022, while the clubs insist that their sporting and operational plans will continue unchanged.
Featured Image Credit: Pixabay / Andreas H., Pexels / gina bichsel
