Clearlake Capital, the co-owners of Chelsea Football Club, have no intention of selling their majority stake to fellow shareholder Todd Boehly, according to reports. The Telegraph states that Clearlake, founded by Behdad Eghbali, is committed to their role at the club and is only open to the possibility of increasing their hold at Stamford Bridge. This follows a report from Bloomberg suggesting that Clearlake and Boehly are exploring whether they can buy each other out to gain full control of Chelsea.
Clearlake currently owns 61.5% of Chelsea after a joint takeover with Boehly in 2022. The consortium, which also includes US businessman Mark Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, purchased the club from Roman Abramovich for £4.25 billion. Since then, Clearlake and Boehly have invested £1.2 billion in transfers, but the team’s performance on the field has not matched the financial investment. Chelsea finished 12th in their first full season under the new ownership and sixth last term under Mauricio Pochettino.
According to Bloomberg, the relationship between Eghbali and Boehly has deteriorated due to differing opinions on various factors, including the club’s data-led recruitment policy and the lack of progress on building a new stadium. However, the Telegraph’s report suggests that Clearlake has no intention of giving up their majority stake and that no talks have taken place about a potential sale.
This news comes amidst concerns about the potential consequences if Boehly’s ownership model brings success to Chelsea this season. In an opinion piece, Troy Deeney expresses his worry that if Chelsea were to finish in the top four or win a trophy, other clubs might consider copying this model, leading to a bigger divide between the top clubs and the rest. This could ultimately result in a Super League and the smaller sides and promoted teams being wiped out by the elite. Deeney argues that this would fundamentally change football as we know it.
It’s clear that the situation at Chelsea is complex, with tensions arising between the co-owners and differing opinions on the direction of the club. While Clearlake Capital has no intention of selling their stake, it remains to be seen how the relationship between Clearlake and Boehly will evolve and whether they can find common ground moving forward.
The potential impact of Boehly’s ownership model on the future of football is a valid concern. As clubs increasingly prioritize financial success over the development of players and the overall health of the sport, there is a risk of widening the gap between the top clubs and the rest. This could have negative consequences for the competitiveness and integrity of the game.
In conclusion, while Clearlake Capital is not interested in selling their majority stake in Chelsea to Todd Boehly, tensions between the co-owners and differing opinions on the club’s direction have emerged. The potential consequences of Boehly’s ownership model on the future of football are cause for concern. It remains to be seen how these issues will be resolved and what impact they will have on Chelsea and the wider football landscape.