Chelsea's co-owner Todd Boehly on the brink of selling his shares and profit on £2.5bn stake, leaving Blues under full control of Eghbali
Todd Boehly is reportedly close to leaving Chelsea after agreeing to sell his stake in the Premier League club to Clearlake Capital.
Boehly, alongside business partners Mark Walter and Hansjörg Wyss, is set to sell their combined 38.5 per cent holding to Clearlake for a reported profit on their original investment. According to The Telegraph, an agreement between the parties is nearing completion. The transaction would increase Clearlake Capital’s ownership of Chelsea from 61.5 per cent to 99.9 per cent.
Boehly, 52, was the public face of the consortium that acquired Chelsea in 2022 and initially served as the club’s interim sporting director. He has taken a less prominent role in recent years, with Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali becoming more involved in the club’s day-to-day operations. Under the terms of the original takeover agreement, members of the consortium were permitted to sell their shares only to one another during the first 10 years of their ownership.
Discussions about either Boehly or Eghbali buying out the other side reportedly began in 2024 amid increasingly strained relations between the two. With Walter also seeking to leave the ownership group, Boehly, Walter and Wyss are now set to sell their holdings to Clearlake.
A spokesperson for Walter told Bloomberg: “This potential transaction values Mark Walter’s stake in Chelsea Football Club at a premium to his initial investment and is another successful sports investment for him. “After this exit, Mr Walter intends to make future sports-related investments.” The consortium completed its takeover of Chelsea in 2022 for £2.5 billion, with a further £1.75 billion pledged for investment in the club.
Boehly, Walter and Wyss each hold approximately 12.83 per cent, giving them a combined 38.5 per cent stake. The amount each would receive from the proposed transaction has not been disclosed. If completed, the deal would leave control of Chelsea overwhelmingly in the hands of Clearlake, led by Eghbali and his business partner José E. Feliciano.
Despite his expected departure, Boehly has continued attending Chelsea matches and was at the Emirates Stadium last week when the club suffered a 2-1 defeat to Arsenal. Boehly also has interests in American professional sports, including Major League Baseball’s Los Angeles Dodgers, and holds a stake in WNBA side Los Angeles Sparks alongside Walter.
Walter, 66, is reportedly being investigated by the US Attorney’s Office over alleged financial misconduct. The supplied report does not indicate that the investigation has resulted in charges or a finding of wrongdoing. The proposed Chelsea share sale has not yet been described as formally completed, with reports indicating that the transaction is nearing finalisation.
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