Todd Boehly is set to end his involvement in Chelsea’s ownership structure after agreeing to sell his stake, alongside fellow co-owner Mark Walter, to majority shareholders Clearlake Capital.
The transaction values the Premier League club at around £5 billion and will see Clearlake increase its holding to 86.5 per cent. Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss will retain the remaining 13.5 per cent.
Boehly and Walter currently hold a combined 25 per cent shareholding, while Clearlake owns 61.5 per cent. Their departure means they will no longer have a role in the clubs’s governance, management or key decision-making.
Jonathan Goldstein is also leaving the club’s board.
Despite the ownership changes, Chelsea have indicated that supporters should not expect alterations to the club’s day-to-day running, leadership structure or overall strategy.
There will also be no immediate replacement for Boehly as chairman, with the existing sporting and commercial executives expected to remain in their positions.
Boehly became the public face of the consortium that completed the £2.5bn purchase of the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022. However, Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has emerged as the dominant figure within the ownership group.
Boehly said: “It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Chelsea Football Club. 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.
“I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club.
“I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”
Eghbali and Jose Feliciano, Clearlake’s co-founders, paid tribute to Boehly in a joint statement.
They said: “Todd has been an important partner throughout our ownership of Chelsea, and we thank him for his time and contribution as chairman. He will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family.
“Clearlake has served as Chelsea’s majority owner since 2022, and as we move to full control our focus is to continue investing in the club’s infrastructure, sporting performance, player development and delivering long-term success for Chelsea and the club’s supporters.”
The ownership group had previously acknowledged the possibility of separating if disagreements over the club’s future emerged.
In March 2025, Boehly revealed that the shareholders could eventually go their separate ways if they failed to reach an agreement over plans for Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea have been examining several options for the stadium, including remaining at Stamford Bridge and pursuing an expansion. Earl’s Court has also been considered as a potential alternative site.
At the time, Boehly said: “We have to think long term about what we’re trying to accomplish.
“We have a big stadium development opportunity that we have to flesh out. That’s going to be where we’re either aligned, or we ultimately decide to go different ways.”
Relations between Boehly and Clearlake had also come under scrutiny in 2024. Sky Sports News reported that Boehly was unhappy with aspects of the club’s operation and had opposed the decision to part company with Mauricio Pochettino in May that year.
Enzo Maresca subsequently took over and guided the Bluesa to success in the Conference League and Club World Cup before departing at the beginning of 2026.
Chelsea then endured a difficult domestic campaign, finishing 10th and missing out on European qualification.
Former Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso was appointed manager during the summer and has received the backing of the ownership.
The change therefore marks a significant shift in Chelsea’s ownership structure, with Clearlake positioned to assume a substantially larger level of control while the club maintains that its sporting and commercial strategy will continue unchanged.
