The Russian-Israeli billionaire has owned Chelsea since 2003 and helped steer the Stamford Bridge club to 19 major trophies.
But the 55-year-old’s glittering reign in the west. London is close to an end, with a consortium of billionaires already making their interest in a deal public.
Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss and USA investor Todd Boehly are understood to be two of the parties joining forces and now preparing a bid for Chelsea.
Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has announced he is selling the club.
“I would like to address the speculation in the media over the past few days in relation to my ownership of Chelsea FC,” read Abramovich’s statement.
“As I have stated before, I have always taken decisions with the club’s best interest at heart.
“In the current situation, I have therefore taken the decision to sell the club, as I believe this is in the best interest of the club, the fans, the employees, as well as the club’s sponsors and partners.”
The 86-year-old billionaire. Wyss has admitted he will look into the details of any possible deal to buy. Chelsea, with the asking price, thought to push beyond £2billion.
“Abramovich is trying to sell all his villas in. England, he also wants to get rid of. Chelsea quickly,” Wyss told Swiss newspaper Blick.
“I and three other people received an offer on Tuesday to buy Chelsea from Abramovich.
“I have to wait four to five days now. Abramovich is currently asking far too much.
“You know, Chelsea owes him £2 billion.
“As of today, we don’t know the exact selling price.”
Abramovich attempted to step back from the daily running of Chelsea on Saturday, in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The Blues boss has tried to hand the “stewardship and care” of Chelsea to the club’s charitable foundation trustees.
That led the Charity Commission to contact the. Stamford Bridge club for more detail. Abramovich’s plans, after several of the trustees, raised concerns over technicalities.
The Chartered Governance Institute UK & Ireland (CGIUKI) told the PA news agency on Wednesday the proposal posed “considerable risk” to Chelsea’s Foundation.
“While there are reports today that. Mr. Abramovich is seeking to sell Chelsea. FC, his proposal on Saturday involving the club’s charitable arm raises a number of serious charity governance concerns,”. CGIUKI said in a statement.
“To accept Mr. Abramovich’s offer would pose a considerable risk – both financial and reputational – for the charity and its trustees.
