‘Chelsea owners have agreed fabulous £20m deal’ – Stefan Borson
Chelsea’s owners have come under fire following the club’s lack of progress since completing their £4.25billion takeover in May 2022.
BlueCo, which is spearheaded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, has spent around £1.5billion on new signings over the past three years.
The Premier League side’s latest accounts for 2023-24 revealed their overall revenue fell from £513million to £469million last season.
Chelsea sold their women’s team to BlueCo last summer for around £200million, helping them turn their previous £90million loss for 2022-23 into a £128million profit for 2023-24.
In a new development, The Times reported on 14 May Alexis Ohanian, the husband of tennis star Serena Williams, has bought an eight per cent stake in Chelsea Women for £20million.
The Blues are now the most expensive women’s team in the world, with a value of £225million that is set to rise to £245million.
Finance expert Stefan Borson exclusively told Football Insider the deal is “fabulous” for Chelsea from a fair market value perspective as the Premier League is unlikely to challenge the valuation.
Club chiefs are projecting the women’s team could be worth between £500million and £1billion over the next decade as the Women’s Super League continues to grow.
Chelsea Women have now claimed six WSL titles in a row following another strong campaign.
Chelsea valuation ‘ridiculous’ after new twist
Borson insisted it’s “ridiculous” to value Chelsea Women at £225million.
He told Football Insider: “He’s bought eight per cent and it’s valued the club before the investment of the £20million at £225million.
“I think from a fair market value perspective for the Premier League test, then it’s fabulous for Chelsea as that will sort that out.
“I think it’s now impossible for the Premier League to say there’s no way it’s worth £200million if they’ve got a third party that’s prepared to take an eight per cent, non-controlling stake for a valuation of £225million.
“In my view, that doesn’t change the ridiculousness of the valuation of any women’s team at this point being £225million.
“I don’t believe that that’s the right value, but people have different views on what assets are worth, and that’s what makes a market.
“It doesn’t mean that he’s definitely right that it’s definitely worth £225million, and it doesn’t mean that I’m right that it’s ludicrous. It just means that we’ve got a different view on what the value is.
“I would never invest in women’s football at that sort of level.”
Arsenal make Raheem Sterling permanent move decision
In terms of on-field matters, Football Insider revealed on 5 May Raheem Sterling hasn’t done enough to earn a permanent Arsenal move this summer.
The Chelsea loanee has managed just one goal and five assists in 27 appearances for the Gunners.
| Appearances | 27 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Assists | 5 |
Sterling is in the dark over his Chelsea future beyond this season, but he is under contract at Stamford Bridge until June 2027.
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