Chelsea owners buy stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg

• Chelsea owners could be the next owners of  French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg
• The Todd Boehly-led consortium have acquired a major stake in the Ligue 1 club
• This is a significant step in their plans to build a multi-club ownership project

Chelsea owners, BlueCo, have reached an agreement to acquire a stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, marking a significant step in their multi-club ownership plans. The consortium, which purchased Chelsea in May 2022, will become new shareholders pending consultation with employee representative bodies.

The agreement signifies a new chapter for Racing Club de Strasbourg Alsace, with the ownership consortium committed to accelerating sustainable investment in the club’s growth. The focus will be on the first teams and the Academy, aligning with the project led by current president Marc Keller, who will continue in his role with the support of the existing management team.

BlueCo, leveraging their expertise in sports, intends to make an active contribution to Racing’s development by providing financial capital for investments in the men’s and women’s first teams, the Academy, and other areas of the club. Additionally, Racing will gain access to resources and collaboration opportunities with Chelsea and other teams associated with BlueCo.

Todd Boehly leads the Chelsea owners consortium and the group has bought a major stake in French Ligue 1 side Strasbourg. | PHOTO: GOAL |

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The project has been presented to the Direction Nationale du Contrôle de Gestion (DNCG), the governing body responsible for overseeing financial control in French football. However, their assessment is expected in the coming weeks as per Professional Football League regulations.

BlueCo views this strategic investment as an opportunity to strengthen their presence in European football and is committed to preserving Racing’s heritage while collaborating closely with Marc Keller and his management team.

Moreover, Marc Keller, a former French international player, took over as Racing’s president in 2012 when the club faced the threat of liquidation. Under his leadership, Racing has returned to Ligue 1 and has established itself as a prominent club, even participating in the Europa League in the 2019-20 season after winning the League Cup.

Keller believes that BlueCo’s arrival will enable Racing to be more ambitious and competitive in a rapidly evolving football landscape, influenced by significant foreign investments in French clubs and the reduction of Ligue 1 teams from 20 to 18.

The news about the Strasbourg acquisition comes at a time when Chelsea is making headlines due to several players, including N’Golo Kante, reportedly preparing to leave for lucrative deals in Saudi Arabia. This player exodus has led to speculation that the outflow could alleviate Chelsea’s concerns about Financial Fair Play.

Since the takeover, Chelsea, under the leadership of chairman Todd Boehly, has made substantial investments of over £650 million in new signings.