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Boehly, Walter Sell Chelsea Stakes to Clearlake Capital
Confirmed
In Short: Todd Boehly and Mark Walter have sold their stakes in Chelsea to majority owner Clearlake Capital, ending a period of ownership uncertainty.
Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, who have been part of Chelsea's ownership group since 2022, have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, according to reports from BBC Sport. The sale comes after a rift within the ownership group became apparent in 2024, leading both sides to explore buying each other out.
Multiple sources told BBC Sport that talks between Boehly and Walter began within Chelsea's ownership group after the rift. Walter, who also sold the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion last year, is currently under investigation by US federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential financial irregularities.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has also sold his stake, leaving Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E., as the majority owner. Boehly, who will leave his role as chairman, expressed gratitude for his time at the club, stating, 'It has been an honour to serve as Chelsea chairman.
Since the consortium's takeover in 2022, Chelsea's highest Premier League finish was fourth in the 2024-25 season, with the club also winning the Uefa Conference League and the Fifa Club World Cup. However, the team finished 10th in the Premier League last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer.
Mark Walter, co-owner and chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, confirmed an agreement is close and that the transaction values his stake at a premium to his initial investment. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the SEC are examining whether Walter's insurers, Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life, failed to disclose that private credit holdings backed other Walter-controlled ventures.
What's confirmed
- Todd Boehly and Mark Walter, who have been part of Chelsea's ownership group since 2022, have sold their stakes in the club to majority owner Clearlake Capital, according to reports from BBC Sport. The sale comes after a rift within the ownership group became apparent in 2024, leading both sides to explore buying each other out.
- Multiple sources told BBC Sport that talks between Boehly and Walter began within Chelsea's ownership group after the rift. Walter, who also sold the Los Angeles Lakers for a record $12.5 billion last year, is currently under investigation by US federal prosecutors and the Securities and Exchange Commission for potential financial irregularities.
- Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has also sold his stake, leaving Clearlake, led by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E., as the majority owner. Boehly, who will leave his role as chairman, expressed gratitude for his time at the club, stating, 'It has been an honour to serve as Chelsea chairman.
- Since the consortium's takeover in 2022, Chelsea's highest Premier League finish was fourth in the 2024-25 season, with the club also winning the Uefa Conference League and the Fifa Club World Cup. However, the team finished 10th in the Premier League last season and appointed Xabi Alonso as their manager in the summer.
- Mark Walter, co-owner and chief executive of Guggenheim Partners, confirmed an agreement is close and that the transaction values his stake at a premium to his initial investment. Federal prosecutors in Manhattan and the SEC are examining whether Walter's insurers, Delaware Life and Clear Spring Life, failed to disclose that private credit holdings backed other Walter-controlled ventures.
What's still developing
- BBC Sport reported in August that Boehly and Walter were exploring selling their stakes.
- American Boehly will leave his role as chairman, a position he has held since 2022, when the consortium bought the club for £2.3bn from Roman Abramovich, who was sanctioned by the UK government in March 2022 over alleged links to Russian president Vladimir Putin - something he has denied.
- "I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans," he added.
- Transaction status: Reported as close to agreement; unsigned and unannounced by the club or Clearlake as at the date of this report Series context: Companion to Valuing Chelsea FC in 2026 (18 August 2026), Related parties: inside the Walter probe (17 August 2026), Covenant architecture and technical default risk on the Ares facilities (20 August 2026), and Guggenheim and Chelsea FC: ultimate ownership, capital structure and credit exposure (29 August 2026).