Chelsea’s co-owners are looking to buy each other out amid a rift at board level.
Chairman Todd Boehly and majority owners Clearlake Capital are both prepared to take full control of the club.
Boehly has gradually lost power despite being named co-controlling owner after the club’s purchase from Roman Abramovich for £2.5bn in July 2022, with Clearlake – which owns a 61.5% stake – in primary control at Stamford Bridge.
Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has become the most hands-on figure within the ownership group since Boehly stepped down as interim sporting director in January 2023.
Multiple figures in the senior hierarchy now recognise there is a rift between two main blocs – Clearlake and the group allied to Boehly, including billionaire partners Hansjorg Wyss and Mark Walter, which owns the other 38.5% of the club. Any rift has previously been denied by sources at the club.
Clearlake does not want to sell any of its stake in the club and is open to expanding i but Boehly also wants to buy out that stake and is keen to see the situation resolved quickly.t.
