Chelsea buy nearly 100 PER CENT stake in Strasbourg but fuming fans immediately protest against Todd Boehly
CHELSEA have bought nearly 100 per cent of Strasbourg as Todd Boehly launches his bid to create a multi-club empire , the French side have confirmed.
The Ligue 1 outfit avoided relegation last season, prompting the Chelsea hierarchy to consider them for their global project.
Boehly and Clearlake Capital have been keen to build such a model, similar to that of Manchester City, following their takeover last year.
The City Football Group own 13 clubs around the world, allowing young players to be sent to satellite clubs on loan to gain experience.
Chelsea are now looking to start their own group of clubs, beginning with Strasbourg, although their fans are less than thrilled.
Strasbourg ultras have been pictured holding up a sign reading “Boehly, not welcome” after news broke of the investment.
Club chief Marc Keller will stay on as Strasbourg president.
Upon the deal being sealed, Keller said: “This is an important day for Racing. It’s something my shareholder friends and I have been thinking about for the past two years. We’ve built a club that’s healthy at every level and well managed.
“Although there was no financial urgency, we were aware that we had reached the ceiling of our model, and if we wanted to continue driving Racing forward and projecting it into a new dimension, we necessarily needed to be accompanied by a solid structure capable of supporting our development and our ambition.
“I am therefore delighted of the perspective to welcome a new strategic investor, with whom we would accelerate the club’s ambition to build the Racing of tomorrow.”
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Chelsea were initially set to buy minority shares in the club, although further talks were held as it became clear that the Blues would only be able to exert control with a bigger stake.
The Guardian report that Chelsea have sealed a deal worth around £65m for nearly 100 per cent of the French side.
Reports last month had revealed Chelsea’s interest in Strasbourg, having previously made similar approaches to Bordeaux, Lyon and Sochaux.
Portuguese side Portimonense have also been touted as a possible satellite club for the Blues.
Strasbourg previously had 11 stakeholders.
And Chelsea’s deal to buy the club was aided by Strasbourg’s top flight survival last term.
On the multi-club model, Boehly has said in the past: “We can show pathways for our young superstars to get on to the Chelsea pitch while getting them real game time.”
Strasbourg, located in the Alsace region of Eastern France, have former Prem stars Maxime Le Marchand and Frederic Guilbert in their squad.
While they also have veteran former Paris Saint-Germain striker Kevin Gameiro up front.