Chelsea Football Club is reportedly experiencing significant internal strife, with escalating tensions between co-owner Todd Boehly and the club’s majority shareholders, Clearlake Capital.
According to The Telegraph, the relationship between Boehly and Clearlake Capital has reached a critical juncture, described as a “breaking point” and likened to a “civil war.” Boehly, who owns a minority stake in Chelsea, reportedly finds the current ownership structure “untenable” and believes that the ongoing disagreements among the ownership group are a major issue that requires immediate resolution.
Boehly is considering a move to acquire Clearlake Capital’s shares to gain full control of the club. It is suggested that Boehly, aged 50, is confident he can “quickly raise” the £2.5 billion needed to make a buyout offer.
Boehly’s long-term vision for Chelsea includes ambitious plans such as building a new stadium as part of a 20 to 30-year strategy. In contrast, Clearlake Capital, which holds a 61.5% majority stake, reportedly has no interest in selling and is more inclined to increase its stake in the club. This divergence in strategic direction is at the heart of the growing conflict.
There have been no formal discussions about the sale of shares between Boehly, Clearlake, or other investors at this time, but the situation could change as tensions rise. Clearlake Capital, a private equity firm co-owned by Chelsea’s other co-owners, Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, acquired its stake as part of the BlueCo consortium in the £2.5 billion purchase of the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022. The consortium also committed an additional £1.75 billion for club investments, with approximately £1.5 billion already spent on new signings.
The remaining 38.5% of Chelsea’s shares is split equally among Todd Boehly, Hansjörg Wyss, and Mark Walter. The potential buyout by Boehly could lead to a significant clash given Clearlake’s reluctance to sell.
