Roman Abramovich, the Russian businessman, purchased Chelsea Football Club for £140 million (approximately €170 million) in June 2003. After 19 years of ownership, he sold the club amidst challenges faced by Russians in the UK, coinciding with the onset of the war in Ukraine. During this time, Abramovich had already begun transitioning away from his involvement with the club, relocating to Israel and stepping back from active management.
The new owner, Todd Boehly, is an entrepreneur and founder of Eldridge in Los Angeles. He also owns the Los Angeles Dodgers, a Major League Baseball team, and his group, BlueCo, has stakes in Racing Strasbourg, which finished seventh in the most recent French League.
Boehly, in collaboration with player agents, including several Brazilian representatives such as Giuliano Bertolucci, has made significant investments in young Brazilian talent. Notably, Chelsea spent about €104 million (around R$ 675 million) on players including Andrey Santos (€21 million), striker Ângelo (€15 million), and center-forward Deivid Washington (€17 million), both from Santos, along with midfielder Estêvão from Palmeiras (€61 million).
The early career development of these players has faced ups and downs, particularly with Deivid Washington returning to Santos after loan spells. Interestingly, when concerns were raised last year about Chelsea’s performance and its attractiveness to young talents like Estêvão, Bertolucci confidently stated, “This year will be strong,” a prediction that appears to be coming true.
Andrey Santos is now considered a key player for both the upcoming Club World Cup and the next season, highlighting the club’s ongoing commitment to nurturing young talent for future success. This strategic focus on promising players may bode well for Chelsea’s future in both domestic and international competitions.