Latest news with #BlueCo
Daily Mirror
12-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Todd Boehly's call from Chelsea star's reps to confirm 'impossible' stance
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly was given a baptism of fire not long after purchasing the club in 2022. And it was thanks to Romelu Lukaku, whose agent wasted no time informing the new chairman his client would in no uncertain terms be leaving the club that summer. American businessman Boehly, 51, fronted the BlueCo consortium's successful £4.25billion take over of Chelsea three summers ago. The sale moved quickly after the previous owner, Roman Abramovich, was instructed by the British government to sell up due to his ties with Russian president Vladimir Putin, who started his invasion against Ukraine earlier that year. What followed was months of uncertainty as one of the most controversial transactions in sporting history was carried out. The period is detailed in a new book, 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC', which revealed representatives acting on behalf of Lukaku actually helped restore some normality. "It is claimed the first call fielded by Boehly on Chelsea after his consortium had purchased the Premier League club came from the representatives of Romelu Lukaku," read the passage. "It was to inform him that the Belgium striker would not be staying at Stamford Bridge under any circumstances. "Which can feel strange, the conversation suddenly going back to football matters after three months of complete chaos in the aftermath of Abramovich announcing his intention to sell his beloved Blues. "But then, in a nice way, that call to confirm Lukaku's stance represented normality, which is all that Chelsea ever wanted after their very existence as a giant of the English game was threatened." Lukaku got his wish, in a way, as he completed a season-long loan move to Inter Milan barely one week after Boehly was named chairman. The Belgian wouldn't leave on permanent terms until two years later when he joined Napoli for a fee of around £25million. The episode gave Boehly a preview of just how quickly things can move in football. And the fact his takeover was confirmed during a summer transfer window simply expedited the process. Boehly came to west London with considerable experience in leading sports organisations already. He owns a minority share in Major League Baseball outfit the Los Angeles Dodgers and bought a stake in NBA giants the Los Angeles Lakers back in 2021. But neither of those deals were as big as his takeover at Chelsea, nor did they come under such contentious circumstances. The manner in which the Blues was forced to auction brought unwelcome attention, not to mention being an entirely unique kind of business deal. But as author Nick Purewal notes, Lukaku's signal acted as a kind of equaliser following such a period of unrest. A reminder that despite the delirium that preceded Boehly's arrival, it was time to get back to footballing matters. And after initially struggling to see much momentum from the team, Boehly's reign finally appears to be taking flight. A return to the Premier League's top four after two seasons away, as well as the Europa Conference League crown, holds promise for what's to come under the American.
New York Times
10-06-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Chelsea omit Djordje Petrovic from Club World Cup squad, Kendry Paez to join Strasbourg on loan
Djordje Petrovic has been left out of Chelsea's Club World Cup squad, while Kendry Paez is also omitted ahead of being loaned out to BlueCo-owned Strasbourg. Paez, whose transfer was agreed with Independiente Del Valle when he was 16 in 2023, is now eligible to complete his switch to Stamford Bridge. However, the teenager is not involved because he will join Strasbourg on loan. Advertisement Ligue 1 club Strasbourg and Chelsea are owned by multi-club ownership group BlueCo. Petrovic is not going to the tournament in the U.S. despite Chelsea ending their interest in signing AC Milan keeper Mike Maignan before the first transfer window of the summer closed at 7pm tonight. The Serbia international impressed on loan at Strasbourg in 2024-25 but Chelsea have decided to take goalkeepers Robert Sanchez, Filip Jorgensen and new signing Mike Penders, who joined from Genk a year ago but spent last season at the Belgian club. Chelsea will continue to assess their goalkeeping options, with Petrovic to report back for pre-season in July. However, sources have told The Athletic that he has interest from multiple European clubs and he or Sanchez could be sold because Chelsea will not go into the campaign with four goalkeepers in their squad. Andrey Santos, who was also on loan at Strasbourg last season, has been included in Enzo Maresca's squad but other loanees Joao Felix, Raheem Sterling, Axel Disasi and Ben Chilwell will not be involved. As The Athletic reported earlier on Tuesday, Chelsea did not want to take too many players and have a 'bomb squad' of individuals whose futures lie elsewhere. They want the majority of the players who finished the Premier League campaign and won the Conference League in May to be competing as they see the Club World Cup as part of the same season. Chelsea's new signings Liam Delap, Dario Essugo and Mamadou Sarr are going to be on the plane. (Top image of Djordje Petrovic:)
Free Malaysia Today
09-06-2025
- Business
- Free Malaysia Today
Chelsea sign defender Sarr from Strasbourg
Strasbourg's French defender Mamadou Sarr has joined Chelsea for €14 million. (AFP pic) LONDON : French defender Mamadou Sarr has joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on an eight-year contract, the Premier League club said today. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that Chelsea signed Sarr in a deal worth around €14 million. The 19-year-old centreback, son of former Senegal international Pape Sarr, made 28 appearances for Strasbourg after joining them from Olympique Lyonnais in August. He has represented France at Under-19 level. Strasbourg and Chelsea are part of the same multi-club ownership structure, with the French side being taken over by Todd Boehly's consortium BlueCo in 2023. Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign against Club Leon on June 16.
CNA
09-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
Chelsea sign defender Sarr from Strasbourg
French defender Mamadou Sarr has joined Chelsea from Ligue 1 side Strasbourg on an eight-year contract, the Premier League club said on Monday. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that Chelsea signed Sarr in a deal worth around 14 million euros ($16 million). The 19-year-old centre back, son of former Senegal international Pape Sarr, made 28 appearances for Strasbourg after joining them from Olympique Lyonnais in August. He has represented France at Under-19 level. Strasbourg and Chelsea are part of the same multi-club ownership structure, with the French side being taken over by Todd Boehly's consortium BlueCo in 2023. Chelsea begin their Club World Cup campaign against Club Leon on June 16. ($1 = 0.8745 euros)
Washington Post
09-06-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Chelsea signs French defender Sarr from sister club Strasbourg
LONDON — Chelsea signed a top young player from its sister club by bringing in French teenage defender Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg on Monday. Strasbourg, which plays in France's top league, is owned by the consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital that bought Chelsea in 2022. The 19-year-old Sarr is a France under-20 international who was a regular last season as Strasbourg finished in seventh place to seal a place in the Conference League playoffs. He was previously at Lens and Lyon. Chelsea won the Conference League last season and will play in the Champions League after finishing in fourth place in the Premier League. Strasbourg was bought by Chelsea's ownership group, BlueCo, in 2023. Chelsea said Sarr had signed a contract until 2033 but didn't disclose the transfer fee. ___ AP soccer:
