Behdad Eghbali is on the verge of acquiring full ownership of Chelsea FC, with a deal to take his stake from 61.5% to 99.9% nearing completion. The move would solidify the control of the Clearlake Capital co-founder, whose personal net worth is estimated at £2.8 billion.
Negotiations have begun for the 50-year-old to purchase the remaining 38.5% stake currently held by fellow consortium members Todd Boehly, Mark Walter and Hansjorg Wyss. The consortium, led by Eghbali and Clearlake, bought Chelsea for £4.25 billion in 2022.
Premier League wealth comparison
Eghbali's personal fortune places him among the Premier League's wealthiest individuals, though it is eclipsed by the financial power of some rival ownership groups. Newcastle United's owners, the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, command a net worth of approximately £1.2 trillion.
Liverpool's ownership, a consortium involving Fenway Sports Group and Jeff Bezos, is valued at around £265 billion. Bezos's personal wealth is estimated at £198 billion. Manchester City's ownership, through Sheikh Mansour and Silver Lake, holds a combined value of roughly £24 billion, with Mansour's personal wealth at £20 billion.
Other notable figures include Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke, whose wealth is estimated at £20.4 billion, and Fulham's Shahid Khan, with a fortune of £14 billion. Everton's new majority owner Dan Friedkin, who completed his acquisition in 2024, has a net worth of £9.4 billion.
On-field context for new era
This potential ownership shift comes as Chelsea sit fourth in the Premier League with six points from three games. The team's recent form shows four wins from their last five matches, including a 6-3 victory over Leeds United last weekend.
Key contributors in that win included Cole Palmer, who scored twice, and Danny Welbeck, who also netted a brace. The club's next challenge is a trip to face fifth-placed Brentford on 18 September.
The squad is currently without several players, including Emmanuel Emegha, Jordan Henderson, Marco Palestra and Moisés Caicedo. Their availability for the coming weeks will be tracked on our injuries section. Despite these absences, the team has scored eight goals this season, though they have conceded seven.
With the ownership structure potentially being finalised, the focus at Stamford Bridge remains split between the boardroom and the pitch. The proposed deal would give Eghbali near-total control as Chelsea aim to close a three-point gap to league leaders Manchester City.
