Abramovich Says Goodbye to Chelsea as Sale Reaches Final Agreement

Facts

• After reaching a 'final and definitive (sale) agreement' with MLB's LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly, Russian businessman Roman Abramovich issued a farewell statement to Chelsea fans.¹
• Abramovich said 'I am pleased this search has now come to a successful conclusion.' He added that it 'has been an honor of a lifetime' and thanked those who contributed to the team over the past nearly 20 years.²
• Abramovich also wished 'the best of success' to Boehly in both his ownership of the men's and women's clubs, and also in continuing to develop Chelsea's charitable endeavors.²
• The approval of the sale was delayed due to the $2B Abramovich loaned to Chelsea that helped fund a club that would go on to win 21 titles.³
• Boehly is also the co-founder of Eldridge Industries financial firm based in Connecticut, USA. Swiss tycoon Hansjorg Wyss, Clearlake Capital investment firm, and Dodgers co-owner Mark Walter are the other prominent players in the consortium.⁴
• The sale comes just in time for the British government as the club needed to be issued licenses to play next season.⁵

Sources: ¹FOX News, ²Daily Mail, ³NPR Online News, ⁴Independent and ⁵BBC News.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Guardian. Despite the success Roman Abramovich has brought the club, Chelsea has faced an uncertain future and had been playing on borrowed time ever since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. A dicey period has come to an end for the European champs, who can now focus on strengthening the team.
• Narrative B, as provided by Wall Street Journal. The acquisition by the American-led Boehly consortium highlights the growing popularity of the Premier League in the US. More club owners are now from the US than the UK in the Premier League, and NBCUniversal has taken advantage of the sport's explosion in the US, extending their broadcasting rights for six years.