Whipping Up the Big League: Touchetta’s Three‑Fold Funding Blitz
Picture this: the fiercest tennis double‑champion in the world, the Queen of Clay, and the man who’s beaten the fastest cars on the planet all line up to paint the English Premier League’s pride, Chelsea, in a brand‑new corporate shade. That’s exactly what Martin Broughton is cooking up.
Who’s Got the Money Knuckleball?
- Serena Williams – the Serena Slam sensation – has tossed a cool £10 million into the pot.
- Lewis Hamilton – the 7‑time F1 champ who can navigate a car faster than I can eat lunch – has pledged the same.
- Additional backing from Rutherford‑style heavy‑hitters: World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, private‑equity gurus Josh Harris and David Blitzer (yes, they own the Philadelphia 76ers), and a motley crew of global investors.
While the officials who threw the numbers in the Sky Sports headline claimed each of the two stars dropped in “exactly” £10 million, Lewis’ reps later refuted the claim—the 37‑year‑old’s financial prowess is still at play but the exact cash count is a secreted‑away mystery.
Why The Chelsea Sit‑Down
Chelsea, once bingo‑room‑chanting owner Roman Abramovich’s trophy, has been on the market since Russia’s spat with the UK launched sanctions.
Broughton’s consortium, formerly the chairman of Liverpool, is doing a full house: they’re determined to keep Chelsea as the sort of club that fans flex over, from the fans’ legal fan‑adulation to the globally acclaimed Jersey.
But they’re not the only talk‑makers: the club is also on the marketplace for Los Angeles Dodgers owner Todd Boehly, Boston Celtics partner Stephen Pagliuca, and the Chicago Cubs family (Ricketts) who quietly bowed out.
What’s Fitting the Mail Address?
The auction is under the supervision of the U.S. brokerage Raine Group.
Adding some sweet background sauce: Serena’s already part‑owner of Angel City FC in LA, playing in the National Women’s Soccer League, giving her some headline‑worthy experience on the football (and soccer) field that’s perfectly aligned with this new venture.
Wrap‑Up
It’s a high‑stakes gamble that turns up a bright bounce through the tennis courts, the racing circuit and the football pitch, all folded together by one deft… if not daring… sporting dollar.
