Chelsea Ownership Shift: Boehly and Walter Sell Stakes as Clearlake Moves Toward Full Control

Chelsea are set for a major change in their ownership structure after chairman Todd Boehly and fellow co-owner Mark Walter agreed to sell their combined 25 per cent stake in the club to majority shareholders Clearlake Capital.

The transaction values Chelsea at £5 billion and will leave Clearlake with an 86.5 per cent controlling stake. Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss will retain the remaining 13.5 per cent.

Boehly was the public face of the consortium that completed the purchase of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022. However, Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has become the most influential figure within the ownership structure in the years since the takeover.

Chelsea have said the transaction will not result in changes to the club’s day-to-day operations, leadership or overall strategy. The executive sporting and commercial teams are expected to remain in place, while there are no plans to appoint a new chairman.

Boehly and Walter will also leave the Chelsea board, alongside Jonathan Goldstein, and will no longer have a role in the club’s governance, management or decision-making. The two are expected to make a small profit from their investment.

Boehly described his time as chairman as an honour and thanked the Premier League, coaches, players, staff and supporters who contributed to the club’s development during his tenure.

He also said he valued his partnership with Clearlake and expressed confidence in the club’s future under the investment firm’s leadership.

Clearlake co-founders Eghbali and José Feliciano thanked Boehly for his contribution and said the firm would continue investing in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting operations and player development.

The ownership change follows several years of reported differences between Boehly and Clearlake over the direction of the club. In 2025, Boehly acknowledged that the owners could potentially go their separate ways if they could not agree on plans for the future of Stamford Bridge.

Despite the change in shareholding, Chelsea’s stated sporting strategy is expected to remain largely unchanged. The club intends to continue investing in young players while also recruiting established players capable of making an immediate impact.

The club’s long-term stadium plans also remain an important issue. Chelsea are considering options including redevelopment of Stamford Bridge and a potential move to a new site, with the Earls Court area among the locations previously considered.

Clearlake’s move to full control therefore represents a significant change in Chelsea’s ownership structure, but the club says supporters should not expect an immediate change in its sporting or commercial direction.

The transaction is expected to mark the end of Boehly’s formal involvement in Chelsea’s governance after more than four years as one of the public faces of the ownership group.