The value of a football club is determined by a number of factors including recent success, historic success, support and current performance.
The Blues failed to qualify for the Champions League ahead of the 2023/24 football season and there is little doubt that this would have negatively impacted upon the club’s worth. However, the Blues remain a very valuable club. They are one of the most successful English clubs in the 21st century and are one of the best supported throughout the world.
In May 2022, Todd Boehly and a consortium of investors acquired Chelsea for a sum of £4.25 billion ($5.25 billion) from previous owner Roman Abramovich. This is the biggest transaction for a sports team in the history of sports.
A Forbes report, published in 2021 listed Chelsea as the world’s seventh most valuable football team, valuing them at £2.31 million or $3.2 billion. Things have not gone according to plan in Boehly’s first season as owner of the club. Not only have the club failed to qualify for next season’s Champions League but they have also finished on the bottom half of the standings despite having spent heavily on new recruits during the last summer transfer window.
The club also made several off-field mistakes which included sacking former manager Thomas Tuchel and replacing him with the untested Graham Potter. Potter arrived at the club having not won a major trophy in his managerial career, though he did do an impressive job at former club Brighton and Hove Albion.
Tuchel had previously guided the club to the 2021 Champions League title. After his sacking by Chelsea, he subsequently went on to lead Bayern Munich to the Bundesliga title. Naturally, many fans were alarmed by Tuchel’s sacking. It came out of nowhere and after it happened, some questioned whether Boehly and co actually knew what they were doing.
The mistakes done this season will likely also impact the club next season. At best, it is likely to take at least another two seasons before the Blues can realistically expect to target the best teams around again. Next season for the club will be about rebuilding rather than challenging the best teams around. The club can realistically expect to finish in the top four next season with a trophy or two being a good bonus.
The best that Chelsea fans can hope for from now on is for the new ownership to learn from their mistakes and hopefully for things to get better as time progresses. While the first season under the new ownership has been disastrous, it has not all been negative.
They have committed $2.16 billion (£1.74 billion) which will be used to upgrade Stamford Bridge which is used by the men’s senior team and Kingsmeadow which is used by the women’s team.
The new ownership can be somewhat forgiven for mistakes that they have done this season. That will not apply next season though. Next season could play a crucial role in the future trajectory of Chelsea as a brand and football club.
