Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso thanks departing co-owners Boehly and Walter

Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso has thanked outgoing co-owners Todd Boehly and Mark Walter after they sold their stakes in the club to Clearlake Capital. Boehly and Walter each owned 12.83% of Chelsea; Clearlake, which previously held 61.5%, now has full control of the London club.

Clearlake Capital bought Chelsea in 2022 for £2.5 billion with a further £1.75 billion committed to investment. Swiss philanthropist Hansjörg Wyss, who owned 12.83%, will remain a partner in the ownership group. The sale came after former owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned following alleged ties to Russia president Vladimir Putin and the country's invasion of Ukraine.

Alonso called the ownership change an "important day" for the club. "I was not here but I know that they played an important role," he said of Boehly and Walter. "And now that Behdad is taking more control, or almost full control, I think it is good that the main one is clear." Eghbali leads Clearlake Capital with Jose E. Feliciano.

On Chelsea's title prospects, Alonso said: "That is why we are here. To work to get into that position, knowing that the competition that we have but for sure the ambition of the club, the potential of the club, the dimensions of the players, of where we are." Alonso said he has a good relationship with Eghbali, who visited Madrid to explain the project that convinced him to join.

Alonso said no players have been ruled out of Friday's clash with Brentford but would not detail an injury to João Pedro, who has withdrawn from Brazil's upcoming international squad. Alonso said it is possible João Pedro plays for Chelsea but not for Brazil.