Todd Boelli has won the race to buy Chelsea in a world record deal worth more than £ 3.5 billion, despite a dramatic late attempt to kidnap Britain’s richest man, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.
Although there is no official announcement from the Boehly Group, Chelsea or Raine, the bank responsible for the sale, sources told the Telegraph Sport that the American has been confirmed as the club’s preferred buyer.
Telegraph Sport exclusively revealed for the first time Boeli’s offer to buy Chelsea on the same day as Roman Abramovich officially announced the club for sale in early March.
After nearly two months of bidding, Boehly’s two shortlisted rivals, the group led by Stephen Palyuka and Sir Martin Broughton, were told Friday they would not continue as preferred buyers – Ratcliffe made an offer for the 11th on the same day. hour worth up to £ 4.25 bn.
Ratcliffe’s offer, filed Friday morning, has caused confusion over whether Chelsea and Raine will effectively let him through the back door after weeks of talks with the other three listed groups.
But insiders in the Pagliuca and Broughton groups expected Boehly to be named as the preferred participant, while sources close to the trial told the Telegraph Sport that Ratcliffe’s proposal came too late to be proposed immediately.
Boehly’s consortium includes Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss, Mark Walter, British entrepreneur Jonathan Goldstein and investment firm Clearlake Capital. Daniel Finkelstein and Barbara Charone are on their way to becoming non-executive members of the board.
Chelsea, Raine and the Boehly group have not commented on Ratcliffe’s situation or offer, and further talks between Chelsea and Raine must take place before any official announcements that may come after the weekend.
But sources confidently informed the Telegraph Sport that Chelsea had already given the status of Boehly’s preferred bidder and that the only way to return to Ratcliffe would be if the deal somehow fell apart.
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