Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich is seeking at least $4 billion for Chelsea FC and has set a deadline of Friday for interested parties to submit their bids for the Premier League club.
According to Forbes, Chelsea was tied with the Boston Celtics as the 25th-most valuable sports franchise in the world in 2021 and worth $3.2 billion.
The 55-year-old Russian — worth roughly $13.5 billion — gave direct control of Chelsea to trustees of the club’s charitable foundation last week.
That decision was met with skepticism, causing the trustees to seek legal advice due to concerns about whether a foundation was suitable to run a club.
Now, Abramovich will sell Chelsea for the right price.
- Abramovich has turned down offers worth $3 billion for Chelsea in the past.
- Swiss businessman Hansjörg Wyss said he has received an offer to purchase the club.
- Los Angeles Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly has emerged as a potential buyer.
- Former UFC featherweight and lightweight champion Conor McGregor has also expressed interest.
Abramovich bought Chelsea in 2003 for $233 million from British businessman and former Leeds United owner Ken Bates. In January, Chelsea’s debt to Abramovich reached $2 billion for his 18 years as owner.
Hot and Cold
Chelsea recorded a post-tax loss of $196.4 million for the year ending June 30, 2021, but it is one of six Premier League clubs expected to earn a combined $1.3 billion in sponsorships this season — quadruple what the other 14 clubs will make collectively.
