Xabi Alonso breaks silence on Chelsea ownership change as Clearlake takes full control

Xabi Alonso has described Chelsea’s latest ownership change as an “important day” for the club after Todd Boehly and Mark Walter sold their remaining stakes to Clearlake, bringing an end to their involvement as minority owners in the post-Roman Abramovich era. As reported by The Independent, Clearlake has now assumed complete control of Chelsea after joining forces with Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss to acquire the remaining shares.

Alonso, who took charge of the Blues during the summer, acknowledged the contributions of Boehly and Walter during their four-year spell at Stamford Bridge, although he admitted he was not at the club during their tenure. The Spanish manager also welcomed the increased control of Behdad Eghbali, revealing that he already enjoys a strong working relationship with the Clearlake co-founder.

Alonso said Eghbali was instrumental in convincing him to take the Chelsea job after travelling to Madrid to explain the club’s project. “We move on together,” Alonso said as he outlined his focus on the next stage of the club’s plans. Chelsea face Brentford on Friday in their final Premier League fixture before the upcoming international break, with Alonso confirming that Reece James, Marco Palestra and Jordan Henderson will undergo late fitness checks.

Moises Caicedo could also return after missing three matches, while Joao Pedro remains a possibility despite withdrawing from Brazil duty. The Brazilian has made a strong start under Alonso, contributing three goals and three assists in his first four league appearances.