Roman Abramovich has said being the owner of Chelsea was an ‘honour of a lifetime’ as he penned a farewell message to the club and Blues fans.
Chelsea confirmed on Saturday they have reached a ‘final and decisive agreement’ over Todd Boehly’s takeover, which will bring an end to Abramovoich’s 19-year reign in charge at Stamford Bridge.
US sports club owner Boehly, part of a Clearlake Capital consortium, will take control of the Premier League club, in what will be a sports franchise record deal of £4.25billion.
Abramovich took over as owner in 2003, and in his almost two decades in charge has led the Blues to 21 trophies and changed the face of English football forever.
But the Russian-Israeli billionaire put Chelsea up for sale on March 2, amid Russia’s continued invasion of Ukraine.
The 55-year-old was then sanctioned by the UK Government on March 10, with Downing Street claiming to have proven his links to Vladimir Putin.
It’s been a shocking and sad end to his time at the helm, having made the London club one of the Premier League’s strongest outfits.
And, in a goodbye message, he told fans he is ‘proud’ of the legacy he leaves behind, as the Blues begin a new era under new ownership.
In a statement on Chelsea’s official website, Abramovich said: “It has been nearly three months since I announced my intention to sell Chelsea FC.
“During this time, the team have worked hard to find the right custodian for Chelsea FC that would be best positioned to successfully lead the club into its next chapter.
“The ownership of this club comes with great responsibility. Since I came to Chelsea nearly 20 years ago, I have witnessed first-hand what this club can achieve.
“My goal has been to ensure that the next owner has a mindset that will enable success for the men’s and women’s team, as well as the will and drive to continue developing other key aspects of the club, such as the academy and the vital work of Chelsea Foundation.
“I am pleased this search has now come to a successful conclusion. As I hand over Chelsea to its new custodians, I would like to wish them the best of success, both on and off the pitch.
“It has been an honour of a lifetime to be a part of this club – I would like to thank all the club’s past and current players, staff, and of course fans for these incredible years.
“I am proud that as a result of our joint successes, millions of people will now benefit from the new charitable foundation which is being established. This is the legacy which we have created together.”
The proceeds of Chelsea’s sale will be frozen in a UK bank account on completion of the sale, with the intention to divert the funds to a new charitable foundation to aid victims of the war in Ukraine.
And the news of Boehly’s deal was welcomed by Chelsea Supporters’ Trust.
The fan group said in a statement: “The Chelsea Supporters’ Trust would like to congratulate the consortium led by Todd Boehly on the takeover of Chelsea FC.
“We wish you every success as the custodian of our club and look forward to a long, constructive and mutually beneficial relationship between you and Chelsea supporters.
“The CST has been very encouraged by the interactions we have had with Mr Boehly and his team over recent months, but the hard work starts now.
“It is now time to deliver both on and off the pitch in building a successful, inclusive and forward-thinking club with supporters at the forefront.”
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