Chelsea Chairman Todd Boehly Steps Down As Clearlake Takes Full Control

Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly and director Mark Walter have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, giving the investment firm full control of the Premier League club.

Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, previously owned 61.5% of Chelsea. Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss each held 12.8%.

Chelsea said Wyss will remain an “important stakeholder and partner” in the ownership group.

Boehly, who became chairman in 2022 after the consortium completed its £2.3 billion takeover of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich, will now leave the position.

It is understood that Clearlake has paid close to £1 billion for the stakes held by Boehly and Walter, although people close to the deal put Chelsea’s overall value at around £5 billion.

The change follows reports of a rift within the ownership group, with both sides having explored the possibility of buying each other out.

In his farewell message, Boehly thanked those who helped the club during his time as chairman.

“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said.

“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.”

Boehly and Walter have also sold their stakes in Chelsea’s partner club, French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg.

Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea’s highest Premier League finish has been fourth, achieved in the 2024-25 season. The club also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup during that campaign.

Chelsea finished 10th in the Premier League last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer.

The club has also gone through major changes to its squad since the takeover, with the ownership initially focusing on signing younger players on long-term contracts.

Eghbali and Feliciano thanked Boehly for his “time and contribution” as chairman, saying he will “always be a part of the Chelsea story and family”.

They said their focus would remain on investing in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development while working towards long-term success.

Chelsea also has plans to either redevelop Stamford Bridge or move to a new stadium, an issue that has reportedly caused tension within the ownership group.

Despite Clearlake taking full control, the club said there would be “no changes to the day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy at the club”.

Boehly, who is also a co-owner of baseball franchise the Los Angeles Dodgers, had been chairman since the 2022 takeover.