Chelsea’s Owners Purchase Majority Stake in Strasbourg for £65 Million
Chelsea’s owners, Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, have purchased a majority stake in French club Strasbourg for £65 million. The move is part of Boehly’s ambition to create a multi-club project with Chelsea at its base. The deal was announced on Thursday, and while the exact stake is not known, it is very close to being 100 per cent. The purchase price is almost exactly the same fee that Chelsea is set to sell Kai Havertz for to Arsenal.
Boehly has long wanted another club to kickstart his project and had been in talks with clubs from France, Belgium, Portugal, and South America, including Bordeaux before negotiations fell through. The purchase of Strasbourg is a huge step towards fulfilling Boehly’s dream of running several clubs across the world, with a multi-club model being a method “we can show pathways for our young superstars to get on to the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time.”
Strasbourg fought to stay in Ligue 1 last season and survived by finishing 15th, which affected the price. However, it will give Chelsea youngsters a chance to flourish in a competitive league in Europe. Current president Mark Keller is expected to continue in his role for the time being while the Blues will likely send young players on loan to the club to give them ample playing-time.
Chelsea’s owners, under the guise BlueCo, will have overwhelming control of Strasbourg. A statement read: “This strategic investment would further our presence in European football, alongside our ownership of Chelsea. We believe it would create huge opportunities to share knowledge and expertise.”
Chelsea’s Multi-Club Project
Chelsea is not the first club to embark on such a project. Manchester City also controls various teams across the globe under City Group management, including Melbourne City, New York City FC, and Girona. Brighton also has a similar project underway where Seagulls chief Tony Bloom owns Belgian team Union Saint-Gilloise.
Boehly’s ambition to create a multi-club project is aimed at creating a pathway for young players to get on to the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time. The purchase of Strasbourg is a significant step towards achieving this goal. The move will give Chelsea youngsters a chance to play in a competitive league in Europe and gain valuable experience.
Chelsea’s owners have been keen to offload players, and the sale of Havertz will help them achieve this goal. The Germany international has already agreed personal terms with Arsenal over what would be the biggest transfer under Mikel Arteta’s reign. Havertz will enter the last two years of his contract, and he has let the club know he will not be signing a new one.
Conclusion
Chelsea’s owners have purchased a majority stake in French club Strasbourg for £65 million, which is almost exactly the same fee that Chelsea is set to sell Kai Havertz for to Arsenal. The move is part of Boehly’s ambition to create a multi-club project with Chelsea at its base. The purchase of Strasbourg is a significant step towards fulfilling Boehly’s dream of running several clubs across the world, with a multi-club model being a method “we can show pathways for our young superstars to get on to the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time.” The move will give Chelsea youngsters a chance to play in a competitive league in Europe and gain valuable experience.