Statement from INEOS on the acquisition of Chelsea FC
Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Chairman of INEOS, has made a formal bid for Chelsea FC, for £4.25bn. £2.5bn is committed to the Charitable Trust to support victims of the war, with £1.75bn committed to investment directly into the club over the next 10 years.
This is a British bid, for a British club.
We believe that a club is bigger than its owners who are temporary custodians of a great tradition. With responsibility to the fans and the community.
That is why we are committing to spending £1.75bn over 10 years that will be for the direct
benefit of the club.
We will invest in Stamford Bridge to make it a world-class stadium, befitting of Chelsea FC.
This will be organic and on-going so that we will not move away from the home of Chelsea
and risk losing the support of loyal fans.
We will continue to invest in the team to ensure we have a first class squad of the world’s
greatest players, coaches and support staff, in the men’s and women’s games.
And we hope to continue to invest in the academy to provide opportunity for talented
youngsters to develop into first class players.
We believe that London should have a club that reflects the stature of the city. One that is
held in the same regard as Real Madrid, Barcelona or Bayern Munich. We intend Chelsea to
be that club.
We are making this investment as fans of the beautiful game – not as a means to turn a
profit. We do that with our core businesses. The club is rooted in its community and its fans.
And it is our intention to invest in Chelsea FC for that reason.
No further comment will be made from Sir Jim or INEOS during the bidding process.
ENDS