Add Woody Johnson to the list of contenders to buy Chelsea Football Club from Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich.
Abramovich, who is considered a close confidant of Russian President Vladimir Putin, announced last week that he plans to sell the Premier League club. The news comes as Russian oligarchs are facing asset freezes and seizures around the world following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Monday that Johnson, owner of the New York Jets, is “preparing” a bid for the football franchise.
Johnson was US Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021 under former President Donald Trump, where he reportedly became a Chelsea fan.
Other NFL owners with stakes in the Premier League include Rams owner Stan Kroenke, who owns Arsenal, and the Glazer family, who own the Buccaneers and Manchester United. Jaguars owner Shad Khan owns Fulham Football Club, who previously played in the Premier League but are currently playing in the Premier League after relegation.
Recently, Sky News also mentioned Cubs owner Tom Ricketts as a potential Chelsea contender.
Woody Johnson wants to buy Chelsea Getty Images
Under Abramovich, who bought the team in 2003, Chelsea have achieved tremendous success. Since then, they have won five English Premier League titles and won the Champions League twice, in which they are currently the defending champions.