Chelsea’s future has been up in the air over recent weeks, with owner Roman Abramovich revealing his intentions to sell the club before he was then placed under sanctions by the UK government.
The 55-year-old’s assets were frozen in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and as a result, the Blues have had to operate under a special licence that restricted how they function on a day-to-day basis.
However, Friday signified a key date for the future of the club as a 9pm deadline was set to lodge any final bids or interest in taking over the west London outfit. While nothing concrete has been said from the club so far following the deadline, there are already a number of known parties linked with succeeding Roman Abramovich.
With that being said, football.london has taken a close look at all of the major potential takeover contenders following Friday’s deadline.
READ MORE: Thomas Tuchel gives backing to next Chelsea owner as offers to buy the club are submitted
Nick Candy
Property developer Nick Candy has been heavily touted with interest in Chelsea, given his support for the club from a young age. Speaking on Sky Sports last week, he said: “I've supported Chelsea since I was the age of four. My dad was asked to play for Chelsea. I love Chelsea. I don't mind where it ends up, even if it's not with me, as long as it's in safe hands."
Candy has reportedly pushed for fan representation on the board if he were to take over, while Sky News also reported yesterday that he had backing from two South Korean firms, one of which has been heavily involved in sponsoring football since 1998.
The Ricketts family
The Ricketts family are another who are said to be interested in owning the football club. They already have vast experience in sport, owning the Chicago Cubs in the MLB, which is American Baseball. It is believed they are set to be backed by Ken Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire.
Sir Martin Broughton
Sir Martin Broughton, like Nick Candy, is a lifelong Chelsea fan and another candidate to take over at Stamford Bridge. Broughton was a former Chairman at Liverpool back in 2010 and Lord Sebastian Coe has confirmed he is helping him, backing him to succeed Abramovich. The Telegraph reports a bid from them has been lodged as of the deadline.
Hansjorg Wyss and Todd Boehly consortium
One of the first to express interest in buying the club, American businessman Todd Boehly and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss are said to be ready to take charge as soon as possible. The Telegraph reports that Boehly has already provided Raine, the American bank in charge of the sale, with proof of funds and claims he could take over in time for Chelsea’s game with Brentford at Stamford Bridge in two weeks time.
This would prove a swift takeover, though Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has said a takeover could go through in less than two weeks
Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London, Masters said: “I think the quickest one we have ever done is 10 days but that’s not to say that record cannot be beaten.
“Normally it will take a number of weeks but that will depend on the complexity of the deal really and the number of potential owners.
“Provided that the information is easily digestible, easily understandable and gives us the right answers, it can be done relatively quickly.”
Saudi Media
Saudi Media have been heavily linked with a move to buy Chelsea since Abramovich revealed his intentions to sell, though any deal may be tough given the Saudi state’s links to Newcastle United’s ownership. There was no word from either group on Friday as to whether a bid had been lodged to buy the club.
Aethel Partners
London investment firm Aethel Partners have made a £2billion offer to buy Chelsea, as reported on Thursday afternoon. The company has also pledged to make funds available in the short term to help ease current financial concerns.
They have also given backing to Thomas Tuchel and have plans to redevelop Stamford Bridge.
Woody Johnson
American Woody Johnson was set to make a £2billion bid for Chelsea ahead of the deadline, according to The Sun. Johnson was the former US Ambassador to the UK and the report claims he believes his links in London could land him the club. He is also co-owner of the New York Jets. There’s no word as of yet on whether a late bid was put in.
What’s next?
Next in the takeover process is down to Raine Group, a US Bank that is overseeing the sale and will make a decision on the preferred bidder. The government are also set to play a role in the procedure, due to their interest in making sure Abramovich makes no financial gain from the deal.
Then the owner or owners must pass the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ test to prove they are capable of taking over and running the football club.
