Chelsea's co-owners plotting to buy each other out amid reported boardroom rift

Chairman Todd Boehly and the majority owners, Clearlake Capital, are both prepared to assume full control of the club.

Since Chelsea's purchase from Roman Abramovich for £2.5 billion in July 2022, Boehly has seen his influence wane despite his role as co-controlling owner. Clearlake, which holds a 61.5 percent stake, has taken the lead at Stamford Bridge.

Clearlake co-founder Behdad Eghbali has emerged as a central figure in the ownership group since Boehly stepped down as interim sporting director in January 2023. There is now a recognized divide between the two primary factions: Clearlake and the group aligned with Boehly, which includes billionaire partners Hansjarg Wyss and Mark Walter and owns the remaining 38.5 percent of the club.

Although sources at the club have previously denied any rift, Clearlake is not interested in selling any of its shares and is open to increasing its stake. Meanwhile, Boehly is keen on buying out Clearlake's share and hopes to resolve the situation swiftly.

Both parties have matching rights and blocking options if third parties express interest. While most of those involved in the sporting side of the club are unaware of the details, some senior figures believe that the process of revamping or relocating the stadium has been hindered by the ongoing issues.

Under a written agreement, the chairman's role is set to rotate every five years, with Boehly scheduled to step down in 2027. Clearlake would need to approve any sale of Boehly's shares to an external buyer.

Since the 2022 takeover, Chelsea has invested over 1 billion pounds in new signings. The club faced criticism for accumulating too many players during the summer transfer window, with 42 senior players on the roster at one point, though this number has since been reduced to 36.

Current manager Enzo Maresca, who joined from Leicester in July, replaced Mauricio Pochettino. Pochettino's departure, by mutual consent, followed the previous exits of Thomas Tuchel and Graham Potter under the new ownership.

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