Chelsea's ownership group has set out its vision for the club's next chapter, declaring an intention to challenge for the Premier League title and other top honours following the exit of Todd Boehly and Mark Walters from their leadership positions.
The Clearlake consortium, jointly overseen by Behdad Eghbali and Jose E. Feliciano, confirmed that Hansjorg Wyss would continue to be involved as "an important stakeholder and partner in the ownership group" as the club moves forward without Boehly, who has also relinquished his position as chairman after roughly four years at Chelsea.
In a statement issued on Thursday morning, the club's ownership described the moment as significant for Chelsea's future. "Yesterday marked an important milestone and the beginning of the next chapter for Chelsea. We thank our departing partners and are grateful for their contributions to the club," the statement read. "We move forward with a shared sense of purpose, clear direction and confidence in what comes next."
The ownership group was explicit about its priorities going forward, stating: "Our ambition is clear: to compete at the highest level, to win major trophies, and to build sustained success." They stressed that on-field performance would remain the top concern, alongside efforts to grow Chelsea's commercial operations to ensure consistent investment in the squad.
The statement also touched on the relationship between the ownership and Chelsea's fanbase, acknowledging supporters as central to the club's identity. "Chelsea FC supporters are the heart of this club and have been its true custodians for over 120 years. While we have the responsibility of ownership, this will always be your club," the group said, adding a pledge to remain receptive to fan concerns and to build a version of Chelsea that supporters can take pride in, both on and off the pitch.
Beyond team performance, the ownership indicated plans to continue investing in the club's long-term infrastructure, saying they would pursue "thoughtful" and lasting solutions for future generations of Chelsea supporters and staff.
"We are ambitious about what Chelsea can achieve, and equally conscious of the responsibility that comes with leading this great club," the statement continued, closing with a promise to keep pushing the club forward collectively.
Boehly's exit brings an end to a tenure that began when the Clearlake-led consortium took control of Chelsea, with his departure coming a year earlier than had originally been planned. Reflecting on his time at the helm, Boehly expressed gratitude for the experience of leading the club.
"It has been an honour to serve as Chairman of Chelsea Football Club," Boehly said. "I would like to thank the many who helped secure a bright future for the club, including the English Premier League, the coaches and players, the talented leadership and staff at Chelsea, and the legions of dedicated fans."
He also spoke positively about his working relationship with the rest of the ownership structure during his time in charge. "I have valued my partnership with Clearlake and the wider ownership group, and the collective decisions and investment we have made to support the immediate and long-term success of the club," he said, before adding a note of confidence about what lies ahead for the Blues. "I am confident that Chelsea is well positioned for continued success under Clearlake's leadership."
With Boehly and Walters now gone from their respective roles, attention turns to how Eghbali, Feliciano and the rest of the Clearlake leadership plan to translate their stated ambitions into tangible progress, both in terms of silverware and the club's broader commercial and infrastructural development.
Based on reporting from Standard Football.