Todd Boehly is reportedly nearing a departure from Chelsea Football Club, with his minority stake set to be sold to Behdad Eghbali's Clearlake Capital, which would then assume full control of the Premier League team. Mark Walter, another minority owner, is also believed to be progressing in talks to sell his shares.
Boehly, Walter, and Hansjorg Wyss collectively own 38.5 percent of Chelsea. Clearlake Capital, led by Eghbali and Jose E Feliciano, holds the remaining 61.5 percent. While Boehly has served as the public face of the ownership since the 2022 takeover, Eghbali has been the most actively involved co-owner, frequently interacting with the sporting directors and attending matches.
A spokesperson for Walter confirmed to Bloomberg that he is seeking a sale and an agreement is close. Boehly is also expected to divest his stake, though Wyss's position remains unconfirmed.
If the minority owners sell their stakes, Boehly, Walter, and Wyss are anticipated to realize a modest profit on their initial investment. The consortium originally purchased Chelsea for £2.5 billion in 2022, with an additional £1.75 billion committed for club investments.
According to Bloomberg, Walter's representative stated that the proposed transaction values his stake at a premium to his initial investment and represents another successful sports investment for him. Walter intends to pursue further sports-related investments after this exit. The spokesperson also noted that Walter did not initiate the sale process, which has been in development for some time.
Early in his tenure, Boehly was involved in transfer decisions, including the acquisition of Marc Cucurella. However, Eghbali has largely taken the lead in club operations since that initial period. Reports have suggested a strained relationship between Boehly and Eghbali, with speculation about one buying out the other circulating for approximately two years.