Chelsea Football Club is reportedly facing serious internal turmoil, as tensions between co-owner Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, the club’s majority shareholder, have reached a critical point.
According to a report by *The Telegraph*, the relationship between Boehly and Clearlake has deteriorated significantly, with some sources comparing the conflict to a “civil war” within the leadership of the club.
Todd Boehly, an American businessman and minority shareholder in Chelsea, is said to be increasingly frustrated with the current structure of the club’s ownership.
He reportedly believes that the disagreements and lack of cohesion among Chelsea’s top investors are creating significant challenges that need urgent resolution.
As a result of this growing friction, Boehly is reportedly considering making a move to buy out Clearlake Capital’s shares, which would give him full control of the club.
This potential buyout is aligned with Boehly’s broader vision for the future of Chelsea, which includes ambitious plans such as building a new stadium and implementing a 20- to 30-year development strategy for the club.
Boehly is reportedly confident that he can secure the necessary £2.5 billion to make an offer to Clearlake for their majority stake.
However, Clearlake Capital, which currently holds a 61.5% share in Chelsea, is said to have no interest in selling.
In fact, Clearlake is reportedly more inclined to increase its stake in the club rather than relinquishing any control.
The private equity firm, co-owned by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, has been Chelsea’s majority owner since they purchased the club from Roman Abramovich in 2022, as part of the BlueCo consortium.
Clearlake and its partners committed an additional £1.75 billion on top of the £2.5 billion purchase price to invest further in the club.
So far, around £1.5 billion has been spent on strengthening the team through new player signings.
Meanwhile, Boehly, along with his fellow minority shareholders Hansjörg Wyss and Mark Walter, currently holds the remaining 38.5% of Chelsea’s shares.
The core issue between Boehly and Clearlake appears to be their differing strategic visions for Chelsea.
Boehly is pushing for full control to implement his long-term plans for the club, while Clearlake sees their involvement as a long-term investment and seems to prefer maintaining or even increasing their stake in the club.
At present, there have been no official negotiations between Boehly and Clearlake regarding the sale of shares.
However, as tensions continue to rise, it is possible that formal discussions could take place in the near future, as both parties weigh their options and decide on their next moves.
With both sides seemingly committed to different futures for Chelsea, this internal conflict could lead to a significant power struggle within the club’s leadership.
