The Chelsea ownership group have insisted they want to compete at the highest level, win major trophies and invest in the club's future infrastructure
Behdad Eghbali
Behdad Eghbali's Clearlake Capital now have full control of Chelsea (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
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Chelsea's owners have outlined their plan for the future, which includes winning major trophies, following the exits of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter. The American businessmen have sold their stakes in the club, with Clearlake Capital now taking full control.
Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, co-founders of Clearlake Capital, now have much more of a major say in how the club is run, alongside Hansjorg Wyss, who remains an "important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group".
In a statement released on Thursday morning, the Chelsea ownership group said: "Yesterday marked an important milestone and the beginning of the next chapter for Chelsea. We thank our departing partners and are grateful for their contributions to the club. We move forward with a shared sense of purpose, clear direction and confidence in what comes next.
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"Our ambition is clear: to compete at the highest level, to win major trophies, and to build sustained success. Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years. While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your club. We are committed to listening, and building a Chelsea you can be proud of, on and off the pitch.
"Success on the pitch will always be our first priority. That means competing to win the Premier League and other major trophies and strengthening the club commercially so that we can invest consistently in the team. We will also maintain our focus on Chelsea’s future infrastructure – investing thoughtfully and pursuing the right long-term solutions for generations to come.
"We are ambitious about what Chelsea can achieve, and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with leading this great club. We will keep working to move Chelsea forward – together."
The statement comes after it was revealed on Wednesday night that Boehly and Walter have sold their combined 25 per cent stake in Chelsea. The duo were part of the BlueCo consortium that acquired the Premier League side from Roman Abramovich in May 2022.
Following the announcement, Boehly said: "It has been an honour to serve as chairman of Chelsea Football Club. 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."