Chelsea owners break silence on Todd Boehly exit as Blues embark on ‘next chapter’ with very clear plan

CHELSEA have promised fans there is a “clear direction” for their future after chairman Todd Boehly left the club. The American was one of the leading faces of Clearlake Capital’s takeover from Roman Abramovich in 2022. Chelsea have assured fans there is a ‘clear direction’ for their future after Todd Boehly’s exit Credit: PA Behdad Eghbali will lead the club alongside Jose E Feliciano in his absence Credit: Alamy But he has now sold his stake in a £1billion deal, with majority owners Clearlake taking full control. The club released a statement on Thursday assuring fans they had “confidence” in the club’s direction despite Boehly’s exit. Sign up for the Chelsea newsletter Thank you! It read: “Yesterday marked an important milestone and the beginning of the next chapter for Chelsea. We thank our departing partners and are grateful for their contributions to the Club. “We move forward with a shared sense of purpose, clear direction and confidence in what comes next. “Our ambition is clear: to compete at the highest level, to win major trophies, and to build sustained success. “Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this Club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years. “While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your Club. We are committed to listening, and building a Chelsea you can be proud of, on and off the pitch. “Success on the pitch will always be our first priority. That means competing to win the Premier League and other major trophies and strengthening the Club commercially so that we can invest consistently in the team. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK The club reiterated their ambitions for the future in a statement Credit: Getty Boehly said it was “an honour” to take charge of the club Credit: Alamy “We will also maintain our focus on Chelsea’s future infrastructure – investing thoughtfully and pursuing the right long-term solutions for generations to come. “We are ambitious about what Chelsea can achieve, and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with leading this great Club. “We will keep working to move Chelsea forward – together. Chelsea Ownership.” Boehly and Mark Walters have both flogged their 12.8 per cent shares for a small profit. The club will now be led by Behdad Eghbali and business partner Jose E Feliciano, who have increased their stake to 99.9 per cent. Boehly was a divisive figure among fans during his time in charge, with some angered over his transfer strategy and managerial changes. Fans protested against his leadership on a number of occasions, most recently in April when hundreds of fans marched at Stamford Bridge with banners reading: “BlueCo Out”. Boehly discussed his exit from Chelsea on Wednesday and said it had been an “honour” to lead the club. He said: ““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. “I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the Club. “I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake’s leadership.” Comment now