Early hours on Saturday, it was announced that terms have been agreed to sell Chelsea to a consortium led by Todd Boehly in a deal reportedly worth £4.25billion. There has been a lot of speculation regarding Chelsea’s ownership since Roman Abramovich was hit with sanctions from the British Government back in March. The list of people that were linked with purchasing the club is long and filled with incredibly wealthy people, but it seems as though we have finally discovered Abramovich’s successor. So, who is Todd Boehly?
Boehly (46) is an American businessman and the co-owner of baseball team LA Dodgers who recently won the 2020 MLB World Series. In addition to owning the Dodgers, Boehly is the co-founder, chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries as well as the current interim CEO of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The American was one of a number of people interested in purchasing Chelsea, and after going through the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ test, it seems as though everything is set for him to officially become the next Chelsea owner.
Despite boasting an impressive resume, Boehly might find it difficult replacing Roman Abramovich. Chelsea fans have enjoyed an incredibly successful 19 years since Abramovich took over, winning a total of 19 titles during that spell. When it was announced that the Oligarch was selling the club, many were quick to jump to his defense, including former club captain John Terry who labeled Abramovich “the best owner in the world”.
With a net worth of around $4.5bn, Boehly has the means to invest in the club but it is yet to be seen if he will match Abramovich’s spending amounts. Chelsea fans will be hoping that the team can continue their success under the new American owner and if Boehly’s other ventures are an indication, there is a lot to be excited about…
Ahead of the 2021 season, the LA Dodgers had paid the most in luxury taxes & wages in the MLB, and last year the Dodgers had the second highest payroll in league history, showing that the American is more than willing to splash the cash.
Now that the ownership saga at Chelsea is over, blues fans will be hoping for a period of sustained stability and they will be able to get a first glimpse of the new owner as he attends Chelsea vs Wolves at Stamford Bridge on Saturday.
