By Daniel Edu
The American owners of Chelsea Football Club, one of the powerhouses of the English Premier League, have completed a deal to acquire French Ligue 1 club Strasbourg. The BlueCo consortium, led by American businessman Todd Boehly and US-based Clearlake Capital, expressed their commitment to making sustainable investments in the growth of the club.
The consortium plans to focus on the development of the first team and the academy, building on the existing project implemented by Strasbourg’s current chairman, Marc Keller, who will continue to lead the club with the support of his management team.
The Chelsea owners’ consortium had a challenging first year at the helm of the English club, with managerial changes and a disappointing 12th-place finish in the Premier League. However, they have recently appointed Mauricio Pochettino as the new coach to lead the team.
In addition to their involvement with Chelsea, Boehly is also a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, and the consortium holds shares in the NBA’s LA Lakers.
Strasbourg, on the other hand, experienced their own struggles in the previous season, narrowly avoiding relegation by finishing just two places above the drop zone. Their performance was a significant drop from the impressive sixth-place finish they achieved the previous year.
While the exact value of the deal was not disclosed, it has been reported that the American consortium has acquired almost all of the shares in Strasbourg. This acquisition makes Strasbourg the fifth Ligue 1 club to come under American ownership, joining the ranks of Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Le Havre.
Marc Keller, the chairman of Strasbourg, expressed his excitement about the agreement, emphasizing its significance for the club’s future.Strasbourg Club Embraces New Strategic Investor for Future Growth
In a bid to take the club to new heights, Strasbourg has welcomed a new strategic investor who will support their ambition and accelerate the development of the club. The existing management acknowledges that while they have built a healthy and well-managed club across all levels, they have reached the limits of their current model and require a solid structure to facilitate further progress.
The introduction of the new investor is seen as a crucial step in advancing the club and realizing its future potential. The focus will be on building the Strasbourg of tomorrow, with an emphasis on growth and development. However, it has been clarified that there will be no direct affiliation with Chelsea, despite the presence of a common shareholder. The sports departments of both clubs will remain separate entities, with potential collaborations serving as secondary priorities.
The fears of supporters regarding Strasbourg becoming a mere farm team for Chelsea have been addressed. The new majority shareholders are fully committed to investing in Marc Keller’s project and providing the necessary resources for progress. They recognize the importance of taking preventive measures now to ensure that the club maintains its standing and avoids a decline in the hierarchy.
This strategic partnership signals a promising future for Strasbourg as they embark on a new phase of growth and development, supported by a solid and ambitious structure.