Chelsea takeover: Confirmed prospective buyers & bid sums
After relentless speculation, the deadline eventually passed for bids to be made to buy Chelsea Football Club after it was put up for sale by current owner Roman Abramovich.
The Russian oligarch took the decision to part with his prized asset before sanctions were imposed on him by the UK government following Russia's invasion of Ukraine - a result of his allegedly close ties to the Kremlin and president Vladimir Putin.
Control of the sale has been assumed by the government, and in the weeks since dozens of businesspeople - from billionaires to UFC star Conor McGregor - were credited with an interest in purchasing the club, with as many as 200 said to be keeping tabs on developments at one stage or another.
Following Friday's deadline, so far six potential buyers' bids have been confirmed...
Aethel Partners
Bid: £2bn+
Founded in 2014 by former hedge fund workers Ricardo Santos Silva and Aba Rosa Schubert, Aethel Partners is a London-based financial firm who entered the race to buy Chelsea late on.
They have confirmed they have submitted a bid in excess of £2bn, including an immediate £50m payment to alleviate any short-term financial fears.
Not shortlisted
Amr Zedan
Bid: Undisclosed
Los Angeles-born Saudi investor Amr Zedan's bid was confirmed long after the deadline as it is believed he was seeking further financial backing.
Chairman of the Zedan Group, a player in the energy sector in Saudi Arabia, the 47-year-old is a venture capitalist and horse racing mogul and is married to Princess Noor Bint Asem of Jordan.
Not shortlisted
Centricus, Jonathan Lourie & Bob Finch
Bid: £3bn+
Although publicly confirmed until a few days after the bidding deadline, London-based global investment firm Centricus joined forces with Jonathan Lourie of Cheyne Capital, and Talis Capital’s Bob Finch to get an offer submitted before the cutoff point.
Lourie, Finch, Centricus co-founder Nizar Al-Bassam and its CEO Garth Ritchie are all Chelsea season ticket holders and have expressed particular empathy and concern for club staff. Their consortium's bid pledges to try and keep existing executive director Marina Granovskaia in place.
Not shortlisted
Martin Broughton & Lord Sebastian Coe
Bid: Undisclosed
President of World Athletics president Sebastian Coe - who is a trustee of Chelsea's charity foundation - has joined a consortium fronted by British businessman Sir Martin Broughton.
Broughton - who is a former chairman of British Airways and Liverpool - has confirmed a 'fan-friendly' bid which is believed to have support in government.
Shortlisted
Nick Candy, Hana Financial Investment Company Limited & C&P Sports Limited
Bid: £2bn
Lifelong Chelsea fan Nick Candy was able to pull together an international consortium to fund a bid for the club after publicly expressing his interest.
Candy's 'Blue Football Consortium' have tabled a £2bn bid. The billionaire managed to find financial support from South Korea, the United States and Europe, as well as enlisting the help of former Chelsea player and manager Gianluca Vialli.
Not shortlisted
Saudi Media Group
Bid: £2.7bn
The biggest media company in the Middle East, Saudi Media Group has tabled a £2.7bn bid to buy Chelsea, which was confirmed after the deadline.
CEO and Chelsea fan Mohamed Al-Khereiji is behind the bid. Mohammed bin Salman - the crown prince of Saudi Arabia - appears in Al-Khereiji's profile picture on social media, but links to the controversial regime have been denied.
Nevertheless, it would take some time for this particular consortium to pass the Premier League's ownership checks, as was the case for Newcastle United.
Not shortlisted
The Ricketts family & Ken Griffin
Bid: Undisclosed
Hedge fund manager Kenneth Griffin and the Ricketts family - the owners of the Chicago Cubs MLB franchise - have made a joint bid to buy Chelsea.
It is confirmed the consortium submitted an undisclosed 'blockbuster' bid ahead of Friday's deadline, which is believed to have the biggest finance behind it. They have been touted as potential favourites.
Shortlisted and subsequently withdrew
Todd Boehly, Hansjorg Wyss & Jonathan Goldstein
Bid: £2.5bn
The first group to go public with their interest.
The consortium was recently said to be the frontrunners after British property tycoon Jonathan Goldstein emerged as the third member of the consortium alongside LA Dodgers co-owner Todd Boehly and Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss.
Their bid is believed to be worth £2.5bn.
Shortlisted
Sir Jim Ratcliffe
Bid: £4.25bn
A spokesperson for petrochemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe initially denied interest in launching a bid for Chelsea. But a very late move to compete with the U.S. consortiums came at the very end of April, threatening to blow the others out of the water.
The bid includes a pledge to invest £1.75bn in Chelsea over the next 10 years, part of which would see a redevelopment of Stamford Bridge and money put into the playing squad.
- Chelsea takeover: Sir Jim Ratcliffe confirms last-minute bid to buy club
- Sir Jim Ratcliffe: Who is Chelsea's potential buyer?
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