Ever since assuming the reins at Chelsea in 2022, Todd Boehly (right) has been a frequent visitor at Stamford Bridge.
The owners of Chelsea have successfully negotiated a deal to acquire a majority interest in Strasbourg, a French Ligue 1 club.
The club’s Chairman, Todd Boehly, has in the past expressed his belief that a multi-club model offers an excellent platform for young athletes to gather experience.
Although the exact proportion of the stake remains undisclosed, rumours suggest Chelsea will spend 75 million euros (£65 million) to achieve near-total ownership.
Marc Keller, the club president, declared this as a “significant day” for Strasbourg.
The erstwhile West Ham midfielder stated that while there was “no immediate financial necessity” for the deal, the shareholders acknowledged that the club had hit the “upper limit of our model” and required an injection of funds to realise their ambitions.
“Today marks a significant milestone for Racing,” Keller asserted. “My fellow shareholders and I have contemplated this for the last couple of years. We’ve established a club that is robust at all levels and expertly managed.”
The consortium BlueCo, led by the American, Boehly, which acquired Chelsea through a £4.25 billion buyout involving private equity firm Clearlake Capital in 2022, stated: “We consider it a privilege to be associated with this historic club.
“We are devoted to conserving the legacy of Racing and are determined to collaborate closely with Marc and his executive team to maintain the outstanding work they’ve been doing.
“We believe this strategic investment will enhance our footprint in European football, in addition to our ownership of Chelsea. We envisage enormous opportunities for knowledge and expertise sharing.”
Strasbourg announced that BlueCo plans to make a proactive investment in both the men’s and women’s teams, as well as the academy.
Strasbourg will also be able to exchange insights and expertise with Chelsea and any other clubs with which the owners have a connection.
Chelsea’s inaugural season under new management has been challenging, with two managers sacked and the team finishing 12th, their worst Premier League position in almost 30 years.
Strasbourg, too, faced difficulties during the 2022-23 season, finishing 15th in France’s premier league.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Chelsea’s acquisition of Strasbourg
What is the deal between Chelsea and Strasbourg?
Chelsea’s owners have reached an agreement to purchase a majority stake in French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. The exact size of the stake remains unknown, but reports suggest Chelsea will pay around 75 million euros for close to 100% ownership.
Who is Todd Boehly?
Todd Boehly is the chairman of Chelsea and has been actively involved with the club since taking over in 2022. He believes in a multi-club model as a pathway for young players to gain experience.
Why did Strasbourg agree to the deal?
Strasbourg’s club president, Marc Keller, stated that the agreement marks an important day for Strasbourg. The club had reached the limit of its current model and needed investment to develop its ambitions. While there was no financial urgency, the shareholders recognized the need for external funding.
What is the strategic investment by Chelsea’s ownership?
The consortium led by Todd Boehly, called BlueCo, intends to invest in Strasbourg’s men’s and women’s teams, as well as the academy. They also aim to exchange advice and expertise with Strasbourg and potentially other clubs associated with the ownership.
How have Chelsea and Strasbourg performed recently?
Chelsea had a challenging first season under their new ownership, sacking two managers and finishing in 12th place in the Premier League. Strasbourg also struggled during the 2022-23 season and finished 15th in the French top flight.
What are the potential benefits of this deal?
The acquisition of Strasbourg offers Chelsea an opportunity to expand their presence in European football. It provides chances for knowledge sharing and expertise exchange between the clubs. For Strasbourg, the investment brings financial support and the potential for growth and development.
More about Chelsea’s acquisition of Strasbourg
- Chelsea Official Website
- Strasbourg Official Website
- Ligue 1 Official Website
- BBC Sport: Chelsea owners agree deal to buy majority stake in Strasbourg
- Sky Sports: Chelsea agree deal to acquire majority stake in Strasbourg
- ESPN: Chelsea’s ownership completes acquisition of Strasbourg
5 comments
chelsea’s season was a mess. hope they focus on improving their own team before investing in others. priorities, people!
i don’t know about this deal. strasbourg need their own identity, not just be a feeder club for chelsea. worried about the future.
todd boehly is doin great things with chelsea. i hope they invest in strasbourg’s academy. go blues!
this could be a win-win situation. strasbourg gets financial support and chelsea expands their reach. looking forward to seeing how it plays out!
chelsea buying strasbourg? omg thats amazing. they gonna be a big team now!!