Chelsea Football Club's owners have successfully completed a deal to acquire a majority stake in the renowned French club, Strasbourg, solidifying their ambition to create a diverse portfolio of clubs. The reported takeover, valued at approximately £65 million ($83 million), represents another significant step for Todd Boehly and his vision of building a multi-club empire. Boehly, alongside private equity firm Clearlake Capital, previously acquired Chelsea in May 2022 and has now secured nearly full ownership of Strasbourg.
The President of Strasbourg, Marc Keller, expressed his delight at the partnership, emphasizing the club's steady progress and the need for a robust structure to support their ambitions. Keller welcomed the arrival of a strategic investor, acknowledging that it would enable them to propel Strasbourg to new heights and embrace a more expansive future.
The Chelsea ownership group, known as BlueCo, expressed their honor in becoming part of Strasbourg's rich history. They pledged to uphold and preserve the club's legacy while actively collaborating with Marc Keller and his management team. BlueCo sees this strategic investment as an opportunity to not only strengthen their presence in European football but also foster knowledge exchange and leverage shared expertise between Chelsea and Strasbourg.
Todd Boehly has long aspired to develop a multi-club model akin to the successful approach employed by Manchester City. This approach allows for player development through loan opportunities across affiliated clubs, providing young talents with valuable experience and the chance to flourish. Strasbourg, with its rich footballing heritage, is poised to play a pivotal role in realizing Boehly's vision of creating pathways for aspiring stars to progress and eventually make an impact at Stamford Bridge.
In addition to the Strasbourg acquisition, reports suggest that Boehly aims to expand further, potentially investing in a Portuguese club. This aligns with Chelsea's overarching strategy of building a comprehensive network of clubs that can collectively benefit from shared resources, knowledge, and opportunities. The ambitious plans set forth by the Chelsea ownership group aim to transform the football landscape by fostering collaboration and innovation among interconnected clubs.
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