Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is set to buy a 49 per cent stake in a cricket team (Image: PA)
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly has sparked concerns that he could be planning for life away from Stamford Bridge after buying a non-controlling stake in a cricket team for £40million.
The American billionaire has agreed to acquire a 49 per cent stake in the Trent Rockets, following the ECB’s recent auction of The Hundred franchise.
The 51-year-old has entered into an exclusivity period with Nottingham County Cricket Club, who will retain their 51 per cent controlling stake. Boehly is expected to plough £40m of his fortune into the Nottingham-based outfit through Cain International, a company he co-owns with fellow Blues director Jonathan Goldstein.
And his foray into cricket will raise further questions about his commitment to , after being replaced as chairman by Clearlake Capital supremo Behdad Eghbali in 2024.
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 21: Avram Glazer, Majority Owner of Manchester United and Jim Ratcliffe, Minority Shareholder of Manchester United look on during the Emirates FA Cup Semi Final match between Coventry City and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on April 21, 2024 in London, England.(Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) (Image: Getty Images)
Boehly has succeeded in his bid after the Glazer family, owners of ‘s Glazer family and CVC Capital Partners, made unsuccessful bids for cricket franchises. RPSG Group, owners of the Indian Premier League team Lucknow Super Giants, have secured a majority stake in the Manchester Originals with a £100m bid.
Last month, Glamorgan announced plans to retain their 51 per cent stake in the Welsh Fire, with the remaining shares auctioned off to an Indian-American group for around £40m. Sunrisers Hyderabad have acquired a 100 per cent stake in Northern Superchargers.
Birmingham City’s owners, Knighthead Capital, have invested £40m in the Birmingham Phoenix, while the Ambanis, proprietors of the Mumbai Indians, have acquired a minority stake in the Oval Invincibles.
The Southern Brave are the only team yet to be auctioned off, with an update anticipated within the next 24 hours.
The Raine Group, advised by Deloitte, has conducted the auction. Raine was involved in the sale of to Boehly and his business partners, including Behdad Eghbali, in 2022 and facilitated INEOS’s acquisition of a 25 per cent stake in United in late 2024.
Initially, ECB chiefs set a minimum target of £350m from the auction. The proceeds from the Hundred sales will be distributed among the 18 top counties and Lord’s Marylebone Cricket Club, with 10 per cent allocated to the recreational game.