Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
Todd Boehly’s time as chairman of Chelsea Football Club has come to an end after he officially sold his share in the club to Clearlake Capital, fronted by Behdad Eghbali.
Eghbali and co have spent around £1bn to buy out their previous partners in the business, however club sources are insisting there will be no changes to the day-to-day running of the Blues.
Boehly’s exit brings an end to chaotic and tumultuous spell in English football, where he actually played the role of sporting director for the first transfer window where the club spent big money.
Chelsea FC v Brighton & Hove Albion - Premier League 2026/27
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Inside Todd Boehly’s reign at Chelsea as American sells stake
The likes of Raheem Sterling, Kalidou Koulibaly and Wesley Fofana all joined the club on big salaries. The first two were out of the plans very quickly at Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea fans were quickly realising that tight pockets were never going to be an issue for them during transfer windows, although where the cash was being spent was proving to be a concern.
The Blues were spending significant transfer fees on young players with very little experience in the hope that they would develop into first team stars.
Usually though, they would become opportunities to make profit. Carney Chukwuemeka, Cesare Casadei and Gabriel Slonina all joined in Boehly’s first window, and didn’t make it at Stamford Bridge.
The transfer policy took a turn this summer after supporters voiced their concerns on multiple occasions, and they were rewarded with signings such as Morgan Rogers, Maxence Lacroix and Emi Martinez.
Todd Boehly graphic
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images
He wanted to be seen as the new innovative face of Chelsea but he had no idea about football. He saw a model in Brighton that he felt worked and tried to emulate it and basically failed miserably. I'm sure his intentions were good but that is simply not enough
Unfortunately became the face of every bad decision at the club, when in reality Eghbali has been pulling the strings all along
It really baffles me how business men like Boehly and Eghbali could not sort out the front-of-shirt sponsor stuff. That should literally be their bread and butter 🤦♂️
Boehly’s ideas did not stick with English football purists
Boehly was not shy to admit he had no real experience of English football when he took over in West London, and some of his ideas did not land with the wider audience.
The American famously posed the idea of an ‘all-star game’ being brought to the Premier League, at a time where fixture congestion is at its worst for top-level clubs.
The ownership situation frequently dominated the headlines at Stamford Bridge, and the rift between Eghbali and Boehly has been ongoing for some time.
Boehly and Eghbali rift dominated Chelsea
Both parties were keen to buy the other one out, however it looks like it is Boehly who is stepping away. His presence at games has dropped off massively after he was a regular in his first 24 months in the job.
Chelsea fans continued to side with Boehly during this time period, however they are now preparing for life under the complete control of Eghbali.
There have been promises to maintain business as usual at Stamford Bridge. We will have to wait and see whether that is the case.