Chelsea‘s ownership faces an uncertain future with speculation growing that Mark Walter and Todd Boehly are willing to sell their stakes in the club to Clearlake Capital, sources have told ESPN.
Private equity firm Clearlake own a 61.5% stake in the Blues, led by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano while American businessmen Walter and Boehly each own 12.83%, as does Swiss philanthropist Hansjorg Wyss.
Sources told ESPN that the relationship between Clearlake and other investors, specifically Boehly, deteriorated over recent years with each looking to buy the other out in 2024.
A détente followed but sources have suggested there are now indications both Walker and Boehly could be willing to sell the club should they receive a premium return for their holding.
The consortium bought Chelsea for £2.5 billion ($3.4B) in 2022 with a further £1.75 billion ($2.4B) committed to investment in the club after former owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by alleged ties to Russia president Vladimir Putin following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Sources have told ESPN that Walter and Boehly value the club at around double the figure paid four years ago.
Walter, Boehly, Clearlake and Chelsea have all declined to comment on either the possibility of talks or the potential valuation.
Sources have previously told ESPN that Clearlake remain willing to increase their stake should the opportunity arise.
The Financial Times reported that negotiations have taken place.
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Walter last week completed the sudden sale of the Los Angeles Lakers to venture capitalist Joshua Kushner and former Disney CEO Bob Iger at a $12.5 billion valuation.
Walter, who only acquired the Lakers 14 months earlier, is under federal investigation relating to insurance companies he owns.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the investigation centres on whether $21 billion of loans handed to companies tied to Walter or his conglomerate, TWG Global, were routed to his other ventures via a third party.
As of mid-August, no charges have been filed while Walter and TWG Global have denied any wrongdoing, insisting they are cooperating fully with authorities.
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“Mark Walter and TWG have always acted in good faith, and those who have done business with Mark know him as honest and straightforward,” TWG Global said in a statement. “We are cooperating with authorities, and we are confident these matters will be resolved favourably.”
There is no confirmation that the Lakers sale is linked to the investigation in any way.
Boehly made himself interim sporting director and was the public face of Chelsea’s new ownership after taking charge.
However, Clearlake have since asserted their dominance within the club’s hierarchy with Eghbali now the leading figure.
