New York Jets owner Robert “Woody” Johnson is preparing a bid to acquire Chelsea in the English Premier League, according to sources close to the situation.
Johnson has already spoken to the Raine Group, which organizes the application process, according to sources, and is now vying to become the latest NFL owner to buy the Premier League.
There is a natural synergy between both organizations as the Jets have just received marketing rights under the NFL UK International Home Marketing Areas program. New York and London are culturally and economically sister cities.
Johnson is believed to be very knowledgeable about the Chelsea club and the Premier League, having lived in London where he served as US Ambassador.
While there, Johnson is said to have become a fan of the organization and its supporters, and he is aware of the important role the Premier League plays in the United Kingdom.
There are currently several NFL owners who own English Premier League teams: Los Angeles Rams owner Stan Kroenke and Arsenal, the Glazer family of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Manchester United, and the Sun Francisco 49ers Jed York owns a minority stake in Leeds United. . Former Premier League club Fulham, which tops the table and is poised to return to the top league in England, is owned by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.
Chelsea is currently owned by Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, whose decision to sell the club appears to have been influenced by mounting pressure on the UK government to seize the assets of high-profile Russian individuals linked to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s post-invasion regime. Ukraine. Abramovich has always denied any ties to Putin.
Abramovich is seeking around £3bn ($2.24bn) for the club, sources told ESPN’s James Ollie. Chelsea, who won the UEFA Champions League last year as the best club team in Europe, are in third place in the Premier League.