Meet Chelsea’s new owners, Clearlake Capital

• Chelsea have entered a new ownership era after American investment firm Clearlake Capital acquired the stakes of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, giving the company full control of the Premier League club.

Here is what to know about Chelsea’s new owners and the people behind Clearlake.

Meet Chelsea’s New Owners, Clearlake Capital

Chelsea Football Club have officially entered a new ownership era after American investment firm Clearlake Capital acquired the ownership interests of Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, giving it full control of the Premier League club.

Chelsea confirmed the ownership transition on Wednesday, announcing that affiliates of Clearlake would acquire Boehly’s ownership interest as well as Walter’s stake.

Swiss businessman Hansjörg Wyss will remain an important stakeholder and partner within the ownership group.

The development also brings an end to Todd Boehly’s tenure as Chelsea chairman. The club said, however, that the ownership transition would not result in changes to its day-to-day operations, leadership or overall strategy.

The change comes four years after Clearlake and Boehly joined forces with Walter and Wyss to acquire Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022.

So, who exactly are the new owners now in control of one of England’s biggest football clubs?

What Is Clearlake Capital?

Clearlake Capital is a global investment firm founded in 2006 by Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano.

The company operates across private equity, private credit and other investment strategies, with its private-equity business focusing primarily on sectors including technology, industrials and consumer businesses.

Clearlake invests in both private and public transactions and has built its business around working with companies and management teams that it believes can benefit from operational improvements and long-term investment.

The firm has grown considerably since its establishment and has expanded its operations internationally, including offices in London, Dublin and Singapore.

According to Clearlake, the firm has more than $185 billion in combined assets under management and more than 500 employees globally.

It has also led or co-led more than 1,900 investments, highlighting the scale of the investment platform behind Chelsea’s new ownership structure.

Meet Behdad Eghbali

Behdad Eghbali is one of the co-founders and managing partners of Clearlake Capital.

Eghbali has been involved in the development of the investment firm since its establishment in 2006 and has played a prominent role in Clearlake’s ownership of Chelsea.

He has frequently represented the investment group in matters concerning the club and will now be one of the key figures overseeing Chelsea following the move to full control.

Clearlake’s other co-founder and managing partner is José E. Feliciano.

Meet José E. Feliciano

José E. Feliciano co-founded Clearlake Capital alongside Eghbali in 2006 and serves as one of the firm’s managing partners.

Feliciano has been involved in building Clearlake’s investment platform across its various business areas.

Together, Eghbali and Feliciano are now at the centre of Chelsea’s ownership structure as Clearlake moves from being the club’s majority owner to having full control.

The pair have said Clearlake intends to continue investing in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development as part of its long-term plans for the club.

How Clearlake Became Involved With Chelsea

Clearlake became involved with Chelsea in 2022 when it joined a consortium led by Todd Boehly to purchase the club from Roman Abramovich.

The consortium included Boehly, Clearlake, Walter and Wyss.

Following the takeover, Boehly and Clearlake shared joint control and equal governance of the club, with Boehly serving as chairman of the holding company.

Clearlake, however, remained the majority shareholder throughout the four-year period.

The ownership group subsequently oversaw significant investment across Chelsea’s men’s and women’s teams, youth development, training facilities at Cobham, medical and player-support services, the academy and the club’s sporting and business operations.

What Happened to Todd Boehly?

Todd Boehly has now sold his ownership interest in Chelsea and stepped down as chairman.

Boehly had served as chairman since the 2022 takeover and was one of the most visible figures in the club’s ownership structure during the four-year period.

Following the transition, Boehly said it had been an honour to serve as chairman and expressed confidence in Chelsea’s future under Clearlake.

“It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club,” Boehly said.

He added that he was confident Chelsea was “well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.”

Clearlake’s Eghbali and Feliciano described Boehly as an important partner during their ownership of Chelsea and thanked him for his contribution as chairman.

What Happened to Mark Walter?

Mark Walter has also sold his ownership interest to Clearlake.

Walter was part of the consortium that acquired Chelsea in 2022 and had remained one of the club’s co-owners alongside Boehly, Clearlake and Wyss.

With his stake now being acquired by Clearlake, Walter is no longer part of the club’s ownership structure in the same capacity.

Hansjörg Wyss Remains Involved

While Boehly and Walter are leaving the ownership group, Swiss businessman Hansjörg Wyss will remain an important stakeholder and partner.

Wyss was also part of the original consortium that acquired Chelsea in 2022.

His continued involvement means the ownership transition does not represent a complete replacement of the group that initially took control of the club four years ago. Instead, Clearlake has increased its control by acquiring the interests previously held by Boehly and Walter.

What Changes for Chelsea?

Chelsea have made it clear that the ownership transition will not bring immediate changes to the club’s daily operations.

The club said there would be no changes to its day-to-day operations, leadership or strategy following the transaction.

Clearlake has also indicated that it intends to continue with the strategic direction established during the previous four years of joint ownership.

Its stated priorities include continued investment in Chelsea’s infrastructure, sporting performance and player development.

This means the major change is primarily the ownership structure, with Clearlake moving from majority control to full control of the club.

The investment firm has been Chelsea’s majority owner since 2022, so its takeover does not introduce an entirely new investor to Stamford Bridge.

Chelsea’s Ownership Journey Since 2022

Chelsea were acquired from Roman Abramovich in 2022 by a consortium led by Boehly and Clearlake.

At the time, the takeover was valued at £4.25 billion, with the consortium committing to investment in the club and its facilities.

Under the new arrangement, Clearlake now assumes full control after buying out the ownership interests of Boehly and Walter.

The transition marks the end of the four-year period in which Boehly and Clearlake operated as joint controlling owners.

For Chelsea supporters, the immediate structure of the club is therefore changing, but the club says its sporting and operational strategy will remain in place.

Clearlake’s full takeover now places Eghbali and Feliciano at the centre of the ownership group as the investment firm begins the next phase of its stewardship of Chelsea Football Club.