2022年2月底，隨著俄烏衝突全面爆發，國際政治局勢急遽緊張，英國政府隨即針對俄羅斯相關人士與資產啟動一系列制裁措施。在此背景下，長期被視為俄羅斯寡頭代表人物之一的羅曼・阿布拉莫維奇，開始擔憂切爾西足球俱樂部可能受到政治風險與制裁波及。2022年2月26日，他率先對外宣布，將切爾西足球俱樂部的「管理權」交由其名下的慈善基金會受託人負責，試圖與俱樂部的日常營運保持距離。隔日，也就是2月27日，相關決定正式生效，切爾西進入由慈善基金會暫時管理的非常時期。

隨著英國政府對俄羅斯資本審查日益嚴格，單純移交管理權已不足以完全化解風險。2022年3月3日，阿布拉莫維奇透過切爾西官方網站發表公開聲明，正式宣布將出售切爾西足球俱樂部。這項決定震撼英格蘭乃至全球足球界，畢竟他自2003年入主切爾西以來，已成功經營俱樂部近19年，期間帶領球隊成為歐洲足壇的頂級豪門，奪得多項英超與歐冠冠軍。

在英國政府的嚴密監督下，切爾西的出售過程受到高度政治與法律管控。2022年5月7日，切爾西官方宣布，已與由美國投資人托德・伯利（Todd Boehly）以及清湖資本（Clearlake Capital）領導的財團，就收購條款達成一致。交易金額為25億英鎊，另承諾未來將再投入17.5億英鎊用於球場、青訓與俱樂部長期發展。阿布拉莫維奇同時強調，自己不會從這筆交易中獲得任何個人利益，出售切爾西所得的全部款項將100%捐贈給慈善用途，特別是用於協助俄烏衝突相關的人道援助。

2022年5月30日，交易最終完成。阿布拉莫維奇將其持有的切爾西足球俱樂部及相關公司，正式全部出售給由托德・伯利與清湖資本領導的投資集團，宣告其長達19年的切爾西時代正式畫下句點。值得注意的是，由於阿布拉莫維奇本人仍處於制裁敏感身分，英國政府在交易完成後，必須由首相與相關部門特別授權，才能批准將切爾西出售所得的25億英鎊進行資金轉移，並確保這筆款項最終用於支援烏克蘭及相關人道救援用途。

整起事件不僅是足球史上最具政治色彩的俱樂部出售案之一，也反映出地緣政治衝突如何深刻影響體育、資本與跨國企業運作，切爾西的易主因此成為俄烏戰爭背景下，一個極具象徵意義的案例。

In late February 2022, as the Russia–Ukraine conflict escalated dramatically, the international political environment became increasingly tense. The United Kingdom swiftly implemented a series of sanctions targeting Russian-linked individuals and assets. Against this backdrop, Roman Abramovich, long regarded as one of the most prominent Russian oligarchs, grew concerned that Chelsea Football Club might be affected by political risks and potential sanctions. On February 26, 2022, he publicly announced that the “management and stewardship” of Chelsea would be transferred to the trustees of his charitable foundation, a move intended to distance himself from the club’s daily operations. The decision formally took effect on February 27, placing Chelsea under temporary management by the foundation.

As the British government’s scrutiny of Russian capital intensified, transferring management alone proved insufficient to fully mitigate the risks. On March 3, 2022, Abramovich released an official statement via Chelsea’s website, announcing his decision to sell the club. The announcement sent shockwaves through English and global football, as Abramovich had owned Chelsea since 2003 and successfully overseen the club for nearly 19 years. During his tenure, Chelsea evolved into a European powerhouse, winning multiple Premier League titles and UEFA Champions League trophies.

Under strict supervision by the UK government, the sale process became one of the most politically sensitive transactions in football history. On May 7, 2022, Chelsea officially confirmed that it had reached an agreement with a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. The deal valued the club at £2.5 billion, with an additional commitment of £1.75 billion in future investment dedicated to stadium development, youth training, and long-term growth. Abramovich emphasized that he would not personally benefit from the transaction and pledged that 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale would be donated to charitable causes, particularly for humanitarian relief related to the Russia–Ukraine war.

On May 30, 2022, the transaction was formally completed. Abramovich sold Chelsea Football Club and all associated companies to the investment group led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital, marking the end of his 19-year ownership era. Given Abramovich’s sanctioned status, the transfer of the £2.5 billion sale proceeds required special authorization from the British government. The UK Prime Minister and relevant authorities approved the release of the funds, ensuring they would be directed toward humanitarian support for Ukraine and related relief efforts.

This episode stands as one of the most politically charged club sales in football history, illustrating how geopolitical conflict can profoundly affect sports, capital flows, and cross-border business operations. Chelsea’s change of ownership thus became a powerful symbol of the wider impact of the Russia–Ukraine war on global institutions far beyond the battlefield.