Xabi Alonso Praises Clear Chelsea Ambitions Following Todd Boehly's Departure

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso stated that the club's ambition remains "very clear" after Clearlake Capital assumed full control of the Premier League side, concluding Todd Boehly's tenure as chairman. The club announced that Clearlake, spearheaded by co-founders Behdad Eghbali and Jose E Feliciano, acquired the stakes previously held by Boehly and director Mark Walter.

US billionaires Boehly and Walter originally partnered with Clearlake to acquire the London club from Roman Abramovich in May 2022. Prior to the latest agreement, private equity firm Clearlake held a 61.5 percent stake, while Boehly and Walter shared the remaining portion with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, who will remain an important stakeholder and partner.

Reports indicate that Boehly and Walter are set to receive 950 million pounds for their combined stakes in a transaction valuing the club at approximately five billion pounds, including debt. They have also relinquished their stakes in French Ligue 1 partner club Strasbourg.

Speaking ahead of Chelsea's Premier League fixture at Brentford, Alonso acknowledged the ownership shift as a significant moment for the club. He praised the former owners for their contributions and expressed confidence in his strong working relationship with Behdad Eghbali, who initially convinced him to take the managerial role.

Since the initial 2022 takeover, Chelsea has experienced mixed results under various managers, with Alonso now tasked with revitalizing the squad following a 10th-place finish last season. The Blues have started the current campaign with seven points from their opening four matches.