Exclusive: Chelsea could exploit ‘huge’ opportunity after record-breaking takeover deal agreed
Chelsea’s owners could exploit the “huge” commercial opportunities presented by their deal to buy the Los Angeles Lakers, sources have told Football Insider.
BlueCo, which is spearheaded by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, took over Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in May 2022, with the deal worth £4.25billion.
As part of the takeover deal, US billionaire Mark Walter also secured a minority stake at Stamford Bridge.
It was revealed in June that Walter has agreed a deal to buy the LA Lakers from the Buss family, who have owned the NBA franchise since 1979.
Front Office Sports reported on 27 October that Boehly is also part of Walter’s deal to purchase a majority stake in the Lakers at a valuation of £7.45bn – making it the most expensive sale of a US sports team in history.
How much of Chelsea does Mark Walter own?
Walter, who is the CEO of Guggenheim Partners, has a net worth of £7.3bn, according to Forbes.
Alongside his 12.8 per cent shareholding in Chelsea, the 65-year-old already owns 20 per cent of the Lakers and a controlling stake in the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Lakers, who are led by superstar LeBron James, are the second-most successful NBA team behind the Boston Celtics, having won 17 championships.
Sources have told Football Insider Walter’s deal to buy the LA-based team will provide Chelsea with a “huge” commercial opportunity to exploit given their significant global fanbase.
Premier League clubs are looking to tap into opportunities in the US market, with the league’s popularity in North America growing exponentially in recent years.
How much commercial revenue do Chelsea generate?
The Blues have been making efforts to boost their commercial revenue since BlueCo took over the club, but they have faced sponsorship issues over the past year.
Chelsea are yet to agree a new front-of-shirt deal for this season as they continue to hold out for their £60m valuation.
Enzo Maresca’s side have failed to land a long-term partnership over the past couple of years, with DAMAC’s logo appearing on their shirts for the final few months of the 2024-25 campaign.
Chelsea’s latest published accounts for 2023-24 revealed their turnover fell from £512m in 2022-23 to £468m despite their commercial income increasing from £210m to £225m across the same period.
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