Chelsea has disclosed the composition of their new board, with Todd Boehly replacing Bruce Buck as chairman, and has confirmed the resignation of Marina Granovskaia.
The departure of Granovskaia highlights the transformation at Stamford Bridge since Roman Abramovich sold the club to a consortium led by Boehly and Clearlake Capital less than a month ago. In recent years, the Russian-Canadian businessman effectively managed Chelsea on behalf of Abramovich, handling trades and player contracts. She has a reputation for harsh negotiations with agencies and clubs and is close with the head coach, Thomas Tuchel.
Chelsea has stated that Granovskaia will continue to provide support until the current transfer window closes. However, her departure will impose additional duty on Boehly, who will serve as an interim sporting director until a replacement is found. Boehly stated, “We congratulate Marina for her many years of outstanding service to the club and wish her the best in her future endeavors.”
There has been a discernible shift in Chelsea’s transfer strategy. After knowing about Romelu Lukaku’s intention to return to Internazionale, they have not taken a stand. Boehly took the responsibility for discussions with Inter, who have agreed in principle to pay £7m plus add-ons to take Lukaku on loan, after determining that denying the striker a move would be unproductive.
Lukaku, who is taking a significant pay cut to join Inter, struggled after joining Chelsea for £97.5 million in the summer of last year. He had difficulty fitting into Thomas Tuchel’s system and has openly desired a return to Inter. They supported the exit, and Boehly, a co-owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, is eager to support the German.
There was a desire to resolve the Lukaku situation expeditiously. It has not become a saga, and Chelsea’s challenge now will be to enhance their attack, with Raheem Sterling of Manchester City a key target, and to move swiftly in the transfer market. This summer, it will be intriguing to see how much impact Petr Cech, the technical and performance advisor, has. The former Chelsea goalkeeper worked closely with Granovskaia, and his intelligence and diligence have been commended by insiders.
The hope is that after unveiling their new board, Chelsea, who wants to provide Tuchel with large finances for recruits, would be able to act decisively. Buck, who has been a divisive figure in recent years, has agreed to resign at the end of this month. The American was appointed chairman following Abramovich’s 2003 purchase of Chelsea.
Boehly stated, “As stewards of Chelsea FC, we are now implementing our long-term vision and plan for the club, delivering an exceptional experience for its passionate, devoted fans and continuing to compete for top honors in keeping with Chelsea FC’s illustrious past.” “Working together, side-by-side, we are resolutely committed to victory on and off the field. This work has begun on our end.”
The new board is comprised of Behdad Eghbali and José E. Feliciano, co-controlling owners of Chelsea and founding partners of Clearlake; Mark Walter, the CEO and co-founder of Guggenheim Partners; Hansjorg Wyss, a Swiss billionaire; Jonathan Goldstein, co-founder and CEO of Cain International; Barbara Charone, a celebrity publicist; Daniel Finkelstein, a Tory peer and Times columnist; and James Pade, a partner
