There was little doubting that the football world probably had a few raised eyebrows when soon after taking ownership of the club. Todd Boehly became interim sporting director, while Marina Granovskaia and Petr Cech departed from their roles. While Granovskaia's leave seemed to suggest the former Blues director would be available for the duration of the transfer window, it appears Boehly, along with co-owner Behdad Eghbali of Clearlake Capital, have taken control.
While some may question some of Chelsea's transfer business in recent times, with high fees paid for the likes of Kepa Arrizabalaga, Romelu Lukaku and a series of wingers who have not been able to leave the mark many would have hoped, Granovskaia was certainly respected in the industry. The 47-year-old was awarded the Best Club Director in European football award as recently as December 2021, was a formidable component of building Chelsea's success, and enjoyed a good relationship with Thomas Tuchel.
The move may only be temporary, but Boehly left himself with some large boots to fill. The US businessman quickly made his presence felt around Europe, meeting various directors and agents, and adding some significant players in Raheem Sterling and Kalidou Koulibaly. Those transfers have impressed, but his brief tenure has also seen some failures play out in public, as Jules Kounde, Raphinha and Matthijs de Ligt all opt for alternative destinations.
