The British government on Wednesday gave the green light to complete the acquisition of Chelsea Football Club in favor of a group led by American businessman Todd Bohle, the sports minister said.
“Last night the government issued a license to sell the Chelsea Football Club,” UK Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sports Nadine Doris said on Twitter.
“Given the sanctions we have imposed on people associated with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and the bloody invasion of Ukraine, the long-term future of the club can only be secured through a new owner” who will replace Roman Abramovich, who has decided to sell the club. after 19 years of purchase.
The British government’s decision comes a day after the Premier League board of directors approved the transfer of ownership of the London club to Todd Boehle’s group, who reached an agreement on May 7 to buy last season’s Champions League champions for £4.25bn ($) . 5.3 billion).
“The Premier League board of directors today approved a proposal for the acquisition of Chelsea Football Club by the Todd Boehle/Clearlake consortium,” the Premier League said in a statement on Tuesday.
Abramovich, who bought Chelsea in 2003 and won five local league titles and two Champions League titles with him, put the London club up for sale in early March, just days before the British government took action against him. sanctions against the backdrop of the Russian invasion of London. Ukraine.
But the sale was delayed due to government fears that the profits from the operation could end up in Abramovich’s treasury.