Former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich has declared he will not purchase another football club, speaking publicly for the first time since selling Chelsea in 2022.
The Russian billionaire, who acquired the club in 2003 for £140 million, sold it to the Todd Boehly–Clearlake Capital consortium for £2.5 billion after UK sanctions linked to his alleged ties to Vladimir Putin following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In the book “Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC” by Nick Purewal, Abramovich said, “I don’t have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role. There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds, if there were an initiative that could make a difference. But as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.”
Abramovich expressed a desire to return to Stamford Bridge to bid farewell to fans, stating, “Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that.” He dismissed ongoing accusations by saying, “Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda. In the end, I have done what I have done simply to try to help.”
The £2.5 billion from the sale remains frozen in a UK bank account, intended for charities aiding Ukraine war victims. However, tensions persist over the funds’ allocation. UK ministers Rachel Reeves and David Lammy expressed frustration, stating, “The government is determined to see the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club reach humanitarian causes in Ukraine. We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far.” They added, “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required.”
Abramovich insists the funds support all conflict victims, including those in Russia, a stance at odds with the UK government’s position. During his 19-year tenure, Chelsea won 21 major trophies, including two Champions League titles and five Premier League titles.
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