Mark Walter and Todd Boehly have agreed to sell their respective stakes in Chelsea Football Club to private equity firm Clearlake Capital for a combined £950 million, according to the Financial Times.
The sale will see Walter transfer his 29.1% stake, while Boehly is set to divest his 22.9% holding. The transaction marks a significant exit for the American co-owners, who acquired the club in 2022 with an initial investment of £4.25 billion.
Following the completion of the deal, Clearlake Capital is expected to hold a majority ownership position in the Premier League side. The sale concludes a chapter for Walter, who also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, and Boehly, the principal of Ensorcel and majority owner of the LA Sparks, both of whom have been instrumental in the club’s recent high-profile transfers and infrastructure investments.
The Walter era at Chelsea is officially over. Time to see if Boehly sticks around in any other capacity or goes fully LA.
Clearlake Capital taking majority control changes the dynamic entirely. Does this mean more short-term pressure to win?
Chelsea fans are probably stressed. Two new American owners means more chaos and spending, right? I’m not holding my breath.
£950m for a stake that was part of a £4.25b entry. Hope they made a healthy profit after all the drama.