Thomas Tuchel celebrates Chelsea’s win over OSC Lille
Global investment firm Centricus is funding another UK bid to buy Chelsea and says it wants to “maintain and support existing management”.
The Premier League club was put up for sale by Russian owner Roman Abramovich before being sanctioned after invading his country in Ukraine.
This latest bid, backed by Centricus – which has assets of £29billion – includes several Chelsea season ticket holders.
At least four syndicates have announced plans to buy the Blues.
There’s a group with Sir Martin Broughton and Lord Coe and one led by British real estate investor Nick Candy.
Candy increased his bid on Monday after adding another major international backer, his Blue Football Consortium said in a statement.
The lifelong Chelsea fan is said to have improved his £2billion bid after a major Korean financial institution joined his consortium over the weekend.
Proof of financing was sent to the American investment firm Raine Group, which is handling the sale.
US interest has come from the Ricketts family, while a group consisting of Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and Los Angeles Dodgers partner Todd Boehly have also bid.
There are also reports that an offer from Saudi Media Group has been submitted to Raine Group.
These bids are understood to be reduced to a shortlist this week, with a sale expected before the end of the month.
Nizar Al-Bassam, co-founder of Centricus, and Garth Ritchie, chairman of the board, are leading the offering, which also includes hedge fund manager Jonathan Lourie of Cheyne Capital and Bob Finch of Talis Capital.
In a statement, the group said it would “commit to support [Chelsea] and its key stakeholders to ensure its continued success”.
It added: “Our financing for the transaction includes financing to complete the transaction and financing the working capital required for the day-to-day operations of the CFC Group, the funds required to maintain an elite global brand, investments at the grassroots and in – community football initiatives such as Chelsea Academy, the women’s team, the youth development program and the Chelsea Foundation, and strategic real estate investments.
“The intention is to retain and support the existing management in both the business and sporting areas of the CFC Group. We intend to maintain the existing strategic direction.
“CFC Group has clearly operated under challenging conditions and we recognize the importance of ensuring a smooth and stable ownership transition for CFC Group, fans and other key stakeholders.”
Former Chelsea captain John Terry has also backed a group that wants to buy 10% of the club “to ensure anyone who buys Chelsea is held accountable by the fans”.
The True Blues consortium is advised by Oakvale Capital and has support from the Chelsea Supporters Trust, Chelsea Pitch Owners and former Chelsea and England full-back Claire Rafferty.
Terry said: “Chelsea has been such an important part of my life for 22 years. I want the club’s history and legacy to be protected as we move into a new era with like-minded people who share the same long-term vision of building the best football club in the world and understanding how important our DNA is.”
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