Clearlake Capital takes full control after Todd Boehly sells stake at Chelsea

Todd Boehly has sold his stake in Chelsea to Clearlake Capital, bringing his four-year spell as the club’s chairman to an end, the Premier League club announced on Wednesday.

Boehly and co-owner Mark Walter sold their respective stakes to Clearlake, with Boehly set to leave his position as Clearlake assumed full control. “It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Chelsea,” 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,” Boehly added. “I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”

Before the transactions, Boehly, Walter and Swiss billionaire Hansjrg Wyss each held a 12.8% stake in Chelsea while Clearlake owned 61.5%; the latest deals have given Clearlake full control of the club. Chelsea said there will be no changes to its day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy as a result of the ownership transition.

Clearlake Capital is a US-based private equity firm led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano. Eghbali and Feliciano described Boehly as an important partner during their time working together at Chelsea, thanked him for his contribution as chairman and said, “Boehly will always be a part of the Chelsea story and family.”

Boehly became Chelsea's public face after the £2.3 billion takeover in 2022 and oversaw a period of major spending in the transfer market. The club spent more than £1 billion on players during his time as chairman and adopted a recruitment strategy heavily focused on young players and long-term contracts.

On the field, Chelsea's highest Premier League finish under the new ownership came in 2024-25, when they finished fourth and also won the UEFA Conference League and FIFA Club World Cup. They finished 10th last season before appointing Xabi Alonso as manager.

The club have also continued to consider options for Stamford Bridge, including redevelopment or a potential move to a new stadium, while Clearlake has said their focus would remain on investment in the club’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development.