Russian businessman Roman Abramovich has officially sold and handed over Chelsea FC — a club he bought and managed for nearly two decades — to its new owner Todd Boehly.
In a statement published on the club’s official website, Abramovich disclosed that he took close consideration of bids he received from potential owners and deemed it best to sell to Todd Boehly.
He said his goal was to ensure that the next owner had a mindset that will enable success for the Men’s and Women’s teams.
Abramovich sold Chelsea FC for $5.24bn (£4.25billion).
His final statement reads: “It has been nearly three months since I announced my intention to sell Chelsea FC. During this time, the team have worked hard to find the right custodian for Chelsea FC that would be best positioned to successfully lead the Club into its next chapter.
The ownership of this Club comes with great responsibility. Since I came to Chelsea nearly twenty years ago, I have witnessed first-hand what this Club can achieve. My goal has been to ensure that the next owner has a mindset that will enable success for the Men’s and Women’s team, as well as the will and drive to continue developing other key aspects of the Club, such as the Academy and the vital work of Chelsea Foundation.
I am pleased this search has now come to a successful conclusion. As I hand over Chelsea to its new custodians, I would like to wish them the best of success, both on and off the pitch.
It has been an honour of a lifetime to be a part of this Club – I would like to thank all the Club’s past and current players, staff, and of course fans for these incredible years.
I am proud that as a result of our joint successes, millions of people will now benefit from the new charitable foundation which is being established. This is the legacy which we have created together.
Thank you.”
