LONDON (UNITED KINGDOM), 25 May. (dpa/EP) –
The British government has issued a license allowing the sale of Premier League club Chelsea FC, currently owned by Russian Roman Abramovich, to co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, American Todd Boehly.
The acquisition of the Stamford Bridge club by the Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium was already approved by the Premier League on Tuesday. And government approval, the final hurdle to completing the acquisition, came on Wednesday.
The west London club was put up for sale in March before owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned for his links to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are satisfied that the proceeds from the sale do not benefit Roman Abramovich or other sanctioned people. I want to thank everyone, especially the officials who have worked tirelessly to keep the club playing and allow this sale, protecting the supporters.” British Culture Minister Nadine Dorries tweeted.
A government statement added that the UK had finally reached a decision to issue a license allowing the sale of Chelsea Football Club to the US tycoon.
“Following the suspension of Roman Abramovich, the Government has worked hard to ensure that Chelsea Football Club has been able to continue playing football. But we have always been clear that the club’s long-term future can only be secured with a new owner.” government
Until now and since May 31, Chelsea have been playing under a special license from the British government that expires on May 31. “We will now begin the process of ensuring that the proceeds from the sale are used for humanitarian causes in Ukraine, supporting the victims of the war,” the statement continued.
American businessman Todd Boehly, already co-owner of the Los Angeles baseball franchise in his country, will become the majority owner of Chelsea once the acquisition is complete. California investment firm Clearlake Capital will take the majority of the shares.
The completion of the acquisition will put an end to a twelve-week saga caused by Roman Abramovich, who officially put the ‘blue’ club up for sale on March 2. The Russian tycoon issued a statement in which he promised to cancel the club’s debt and establish a foundation to help the victims of the war in Ukraine.
Abramovich was sanctioned by the British government on March 10, and Downing Street claimed to have proven his links to Putin. Chelsea was placed under a strict government operating license, with all of Abramovich’s other British assets frozen. The sanctions meant that Chelsea could not carry out any business, neither buy nor sell players.
After buying Chelsea in 2003, Abramovich denied asking for his 1.5 billion pound ($1.9 billion) loan to the club to be repaid when the sale was completed. Once the Boehly acquisition is complete, the ‘blues’ will be able to return to normal.