Clearlake Capital is reportedly nearing a deal to buy out Chelsea co-owners Todd Boehly and Mark Walter. Although the deal is not yet finalised, both investors are expected to leave the club upon its completion.
The potential agreement values Chelsea at around £5 billion, with Boehly and Walter set to receive more than their initial investments when they sell their stakes.
Boehly and Walter, alongside Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, acquired a 12.8% stake in Chelsea back in 2022 when a consortium led by Clearlake Capital purchased the club from Roman Abramovich.
In the immediate aftermath of the acquisition, Boehly played an active role in the club's operations, frequently stepping into the limelight alongside Behdad Eghbali. However, he has since stepped back from direct management and is now looking to sell his share. The situation with Wyss remains uncertain at this stage.
Negotiations regarding changes in ownership structure have been ongoing for nearly two years, but they've noticeably accelerated in recent months.
A representative for Walter confirmed to Bloomberg that discussions are close to completion:
This potential deal evaluates Mark Walter's stake in Chelsea above his initial investment, marking yet another successful venture in sports for him.
Following his exit from Chelsea, Walter intends to continue investing in sports projects.
Walter was not the driving force behind this proposed sale of his stake; discussions have been in the works for quite some time.
It’s worth noting that Walter is currently a subject of a federal investigation related to alleged fraud and transactions between related parties in his insurance business. His holding company, TWG Global, has denied any wrongdoing.
