Private Equity

Clearlake’s Feliciano after Chelsea FC buy: ‘It’s more scrutiny than we expected’

The comments come amid reports that Chelsea's owners have raised £500m in fresh capital from Ares Management

The largest deal ever recorded in football saw Chelsea FC sold through a leveraged buyout in 2022 for £2.5bn, plus a further commitment of £1.75bn
The largest deal ever recorded in football saw Chelsea FC sold through a leveraged buyout in 2022 for £2.5bn, plus a further commitment of £1.75bn Photo: AFP/Getty Images

The private equity co-owner of Chelsea Football Club admits that he had not expected so much scrutiny after buying the West London football club.

Clearlake capital co-founder Jose E Feliciano, who bought Chelsea FC in 2022 as part of an investor consortium, told a Paris private equity conference on 20 September: "It’s more scrutiny than we expected."

WSJ Logo
Pro Bono or Pro Nono? Law Firms Split on Fulfilling Deals With TrumpExternal link

Pro Bono or Pro Nono? Law Firms Split on Fulfilling Deals With Trump