Roman Abramovich, former owner of Chelsea Football Club, has ruled out any future involvement in football ownership, declaring that his time in the sport ended with his sale of the London club in 2022.
In his first public comments in three years, Abramovich said he has no intention of returning to club ownership or assuming any professional football role. His remarks are featured in the newly released book Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC by Nick Purewal.
“I don’t have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role,” said the 58-year-old Russian billionaire. “There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds… but as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime.”
Abramovich, who purchased Chelsea in 2003 for approximately £140 million, sold the club in May 2022 to a consortium led by Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital for £2.5 billion, following UK government sanctions stemming from his alleged ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The proceeds from the sale remain frozen in a UK bank account and have become the subject of an ongoing dispute between Abramovich and the British government. The government insists the funds be directed exclusively to humanitarian relief for Ukrainians, while Abramovich has pushed for the money to support victims on all sides of the conflict.
UK Finance Minister Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy expressed frustration on Monday over the lack of agreement with the former Chelsea owner.
“We are deeply frustrated that it has not been possible to reach agreement on this with Mr Abramovich so far,” they said in a joint statement. “While the door for negotiations will remain open, we are fully prepared to pursue this through the courts if required, to ensure people suffering in Ukraine can benefit from these proceeds as soon as possible.”
Despite the controversy, Abramovich expressed hope that he may one day return to Stamford Bridge to properly bid farewell to Chelsea supporters.
“Perhaps one day there would be a situation where I could attend a match and say a proper goodbye, but nothing more than that,” he said.
Dismissing the accusations against him, Abramovich referenced a Russian proverb to explain his detachment from public criticism: “There is an old Russian saying, ‘The dogs bark but the caravan keeps moving.’ That fits here. Whatever I do, people will always accuse me of some kind of agenda.”
During his 19-year tenure, Abramovich transformed Chelsea into one of Europe’s elite clubs, overseeing an era that delivered 21 major trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles, five Premier League trophies, and a FIFA Club World Cup.
