Chelsea turning point: Boehly and Walter ready to sell their stakes to Clearlake Capital

The two shareholders each hold around 13% of the shares

Chelsea could be heading for another change of ownership. Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, two of the leading figures in the London club's American ownership group, are reportedly considering selling their stakes to Clearlake Capital, the Blues' majority shareholder. L'Equipe reported it.

As club chairman, Boehly holds around a 13% stake, while Walter, a member of the board of directors, owns the same share. Swiss financier Hansjörg Wyss also holds around 13%. Clearlake Capital, meanwhile, control 62% of Chelsea.

Relations between Boehly and Clearlake have reportedly worsened over time. The American businessman has in fact emerged as one of the main figures blamed for the team's disappointing performances, despite the heavy investment in the transfer market in recent years.

Boehly's role straight after the takeover proved particularly significant: in 2022 the American also spent several months as sporting director, despite admitting he had limited knowledge of football. That approach only deepened doubts and tensions within the ownership.

Boehly and Walter bought into Chelsea in 2022, taking over the club from Roman Abramovich for a fee close to €3 billion after the sale was imposed on the Russian magnate following the start of the war in Ukraine. Today, according to valuations reported by the English press, the two businessmen believe the club could be worth around €5.8 billion.

A sale of the shares to Clearlake would therefore mark a significant reshuffle at the top of Chelsea, with Boehly and Walter potentially ready to step back after four years marked by record investment, mixed results and growing internal tensions within the ownership.