Todd Boehly to be removed as Chelsea chairman as part of strange deal

Todd Boehly will be removed from his role as Chelsea chairman in 2027 as part of a unique agreement among the club’s owners, according to a report.

Boehly was appointed chairman after he, along with Clearlake Capital, Hansjorg Wyss and Mark Walter, completed a deal to buy Chelsea from Roman Abramovich in 2022.

According to the Daily Mail, there is an agreement among the co-owners that they can change which of them sits in the chairman role every five years, and they will take the first opportunity to make a change in 2027.

It is believed that the terms of the takeover saw Boehly take the first stint as chairman but he is now expected to be removed when his five-year period comes to an end. Clearlake co-owners Behdad Eghbali and Jose Feliciano could take the position or hire somebody else. Boehly would then be eligible to return in 2032.

Boehly has faced significant hostility from Chelsea fans in recent weeks, with many chanting for him to leave the club during matches. He is seen by many as the main decision-maker at Stamford Bridge but that is largely due to the publicity surrounding the takeover bid, but Eghbali is still a major influence.

There have also been reports of unrest between Boehly and Clearlake, particularly revolving around transfer decisions, although Chelsea are said to have repeatedly denied such rumours.

A new chairman would not bring about a change in strategy inside Chelsea, and Boehly’s approval would still be required for any major deals even if he was no longer the club chairman.