Premier League approves Chelsea takeover

The Premier League board has approved the proposed takeover of Chelsea by the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Consortium, the league has announced.

Los Angeles Dodgers co-owner Boehly had already agreed a £4.25 billion purchase of the Blues, with Roman Abramovich’s ownership tenure poised to end after 19 years.

A statement from the Premier League yesterday read: “The Premier League Board has today approved the proposed takeover of Chelsea Football Club by the Todd Boehly/ Clearlake Consortium.

“The purchase remains subject to the government issuing the required sale licence and the satisfactory completion of the final stages of the transaction.”

Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s spokesperson earlier confirmed the UK Government had launched talks with “international partners” to help seal the deal.

Russian-Israeli billionaire Abramovich has hoped for some time to satisfy government expectations on how to handle his £1.5bn loan to Chelsea. The 55-yearold is thought to be confident those demands have been reached, which would allow Downing Street to sign off on the sale.

The Premier League statement added: “The Board has applied the Premier League’s Owners’ and Directors’ Test (OADT) to all prospective directors, and undertaken the necessary due diligence.

“The members of the consortium purchasing the club are affiliates of the Clearlake Capital Group, L.P., Todd Boehly, Hansjorg Wyss and Mark Walter.”

Government sources were optimistic about a Chelsea deal being struck last night but said “it’s going to go down to the wire”.