CHELSEA could be on the brink of a new era – and not just because they’ve had their transfer ban lifted.
It’s all change at the Blues these days, with Frank Lampard replacing the tedious Maurizio Sarri in the summer.
American billionaire Todd Boehly is interested in buying ChelseaCredit: Getty
Todd Boehly, right, is a businessman with a history of owning sports teamsCredit: Getty
Lamps has brought with him a youth-first policy and an exciting style of football.
And he’s going to have £150million to spend in January after their transfer embargo was lifted six months early.
But now there may be even more drastic changes with American business tycoon Todd Boehly interested in buying the club from Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich took over at Stamford Bridge in 2003 and ushered in a new, trophy-laden era at the club as the Chelsea hoovered up the world’s top talent for monster fees.
But with the Russian billionaire’s visa issues preventing him from watching a single game in West London since early 2018, he may be tempted to sell up.
Boehly, 46, is already said to have had a bid rejected as it falls short of Abramovich’s £3BILLION valuation.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Britain’s richest man and lifelong Manchester United fan, was also linked with buying Chelsea in March.
But club chairman Bruce Buck has said Abrahmovich is going nowhere – while other reports claimed new boss Frank Lampard has reignited the Russian’s “love affair” with the club.
But it’s thought the current club chief could be tempted into selling should the American up his offer.
With change seemingly just around the corner, check out Boehly’s impressive CV, below…
WHO ARE YA?
Todd Boehly, right, is an American businessman worth around £4.7mCredit: Getty
Todd Boehly – pronounced “Bow-lee” – is an American businessman and investor.
The US billionaire is current chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries – a private investment firm based on the East coast.
He has German roots, as his grandparents emigrated to America.
At school he was on the wrestling team which won state tournament titles in 1990 and 1991.
So key was Boehly’s role on the team, the school named their facilities after him – calling it the Boehly Family Wrestling Room.
In terms of further education, Boehly graduated from both the College of William and Mary, as well as the London School of Economics – where he would have first got a taste for life in the English capital.
Boehly has recently been fascinated by the prospect of taking over Tottenham or Chelsea – but Spurs’ new stadium and upgrade in facilities made them the more expensive option.
FAMILY
Boehly is married to wife Katie and has three sons, Nick, Zach and ClayCredit: Getty
Boehly’s grandparents are of German heritage and moved to the States during their lifetime.
The American businessman is married to wife Katie – and they have three sons, Nick, Zach and Clay.
One of Boehly’s credit funds is called NZC Guggenheim – with the NZC coming from his sons’ initials.
The reason for that is an investor wanted assurances from Boehly he would take it seriously, so he named it after his loved ones.
BUSINESS
Boehly has been involved in business since leaving university – where he studied at LSECredit: Getty
Boehly spent the early portion of his career working for Credit Suisse First Boston – an investment banking division of Credit Suisse Group.
He also worked for JH Whitney & Company, an American venture capital firm who focus primarily on leveraged buyouts, acquisitions, turnarounds and recapitalizations.
Boehly moved to Guggenheim Partners in 2001 – where he played a key role in launching the firm’s first credit investment business.
Most-recently he served as the company’s president.
He bought some of the assets collected during his stay at Guggenheim to create his own company – Eldridge Industries.
Boehly is also chairman of Valence Media (entertainment), chairman of Security Benefit (retirement solutions), board member of Cain International (real estate investment) and on the board of NPC International – the largest owner of Pizza Hut chains in the US.
Valence Media encompasses Billboard-Hollywood Reporter Media Group, Dick Clark Productions and MRC – the producers of hit US TV show House of Cards.
All in all, Boehly employs over 2,500 people across his business empire.
SPORT
Todd Boehly earns a 20 per cent stake in MLB side the Los Angeles DodgersCredit: AP:Associated Press
Boehly part owns the LA Dodgers as well as WNBA side the LA SparksCredit: Rex Features
Despite being staggeringly busy in the business world, Boehly has also taken his time and money to sport.
Chelsea fans will be relieved to hear he has a past in running sports teams, as he part owns TWO American sporting teams.
Boehly holds a 20 per cent stake in MLB (baseball) team the Los Angeles Dodgers.
He also part-owns WNBA (basketball) side the Los Angeles Sparks.
CHARITY WORK
Alongside wife Katie, Boehly founded the Boehly Center for Excellence in Finance in 2014 at his old university.
The billionaire is on the board of Faces – Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures – and the Brunswick School, a private school in Connecticut.
Elsewhere, Boehly is involved with helping the Prostate Cancer Foundation, as well as the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption – the only non-profit charity in North America dedicated to finding permanent homes for children in foster care.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
