Chelsea ‘buy a stake in Ligue 1 side Strasbourg’ as owner Todd Boehly pursues a multi-club model 

Chelsea have bought a stake in Ligue 1 club Strasbourg, as owner Todd Boehly seeks to develop a multi-club model. 

Reports emerged earlier this year that Chelsea had begun discussions with Strasbourg over a ‘full or partial takeover’ of the French side.

BlueCo, Chelsea’s parent owners, have confirmed the ‘strategic investment’ in Strasbourg, which they claim will ‘create huge opportunities’ for the clubs.

‘It is an honour for us to be part of this historic club,’ a BlueCo statement read.

‘We are committed to preserving the heritage of Racing and are focused on working closely with Marc and his management team to continue the excellent work they have been doing.

‘This strategic investment would further our presence in European football, alongside our ownership of Chelsea.

‘We believe it would create huge opportunities to share knowledge and expertise.’   

Reports have claimed the deal to buy the majority stake could be worth £65m.

‘This is an important day for Racing,’ said Marc Keller, Strasbourg President.

‘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 the continue driving Racing forward and projecting it into a new dimension, we necessarily needed to be accompanied by a solid structure capable of supporting out 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 ambitions to build the Racing of tomorrow.’  

Co-owner and Chairman Todd Boehly has been keen on a multi-club model for some time.

The Blues are expected to have bought a majority stake in Strasbourg worth a reported £65m

Boehly revealed in September a plan to help the Blues develop their young players by loaning them to affiliated clubs.

‘We’ve talked about having a multi-club model,’ Boehly told the Salt Conference, ‘I would love to continue to build out the footprint.

‘I think the challenge that Chelsea has now, or one of them, is that when you have 18-, 19-, 20-year-old superstars, you can loan them out to other clubs but you put their development in someone else’s hands.

‘To me the way to do that is through another club somewhere in a really competitive league in Europe.’

Strasbourg will reportedly ‘keep their identity’, with fans having expressed opposition to the prospect of being bought by Chelsea.

The sale is expected to result in investment into the club’s infrastructure, including the stadium, training centre and academy.

Strasbourg finished 15th in Ligue 1 last season, with Frederic Antonetti’s side ending five points above the relegation zone.