Billionaire financiers Mark Walter and Todd Boehly are close to finalizing a deal to sell their stakes in Chelsea FC to the club's majority owner, Clearlake Capital. This transaction, first reported by Bloomberg on September 10, 2026, would significantly increase Clearlake Capital's ownership in the club from its current 61.5% to approximately 99.9%. The deal includes the sale of stakes held by Boehly, Walter, and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, with each currently owning 12.8% of the club.
The consortium, led by Clearlake and Boehly, acquired Chelsea in 2022 for approximately $3.4 billion (£2.5 billion), with an additional commitment of $2.1 billion (£1.75 billion) for investment. A spokesperson for Mark Walter confirmed that the potential transaction values his stake at a premium to his initial investment, indicating a small profit for him and the other selling investors. Walter, who has faced an investigation by the US attorney’s office regarding potential financial misdealing and recently sold his NBA franchise, the Los Angeles Lakers, for $9.2 billion, intends to pursue further sports-related investments after this exit.
This sale will bring an end to a period marked by a challenging relationship between Boehly and Clearlake's Behdad Eghbali, who has been running the club since January 2023. While Boehly was initially perceived as the face of the new regime, Eghbali has been the primary decision-maker. The departure of Boehly and Walter is expected to streamline decision-making at Chelsea, as past negotiations over increasing Clearlake's stake often stalled due to valuation disagreements. The club has experienced significant managerial turnover and financial scrutiny, including sanctions from UEFA and fines from the Premier League for past rule-breaking.
