Seven-times Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton could become one of the new owners of the Chelsea football club.
The Mercedes driver has been linked to an investment group headed by former Liverpool football club chairman Martin Broughton, along with multiple tennis champion Serena Williams. Sky reported Hamilton and Williams have contributed £10 million each as part of the bid.
The club was put up for sale last month after Roman Abramovich, its owner since 2003, was sanctioned by the British government in reaction to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, due to his close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Abramovich has said the proceeds of the sale will be used “for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine”.
Broughton was previously chairman and chief executive officer of British American Tobacco during which time it entered a Formula 1 team, British American Racing. It later became the Mercedes team Hamilton now drives for.
Rival bidders for Chelsea include figures connected to other sports organisations including the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team, the Boston Celtics basketball squad and Italian football club Atalanta.
Hamilton has previously indicated he is a supporter of Chelsea’s London rivals Arsenal. His other business interests include Zapp, an on-demand grocery sales app, and Neat Burger, a vegan fast food restaurant chain.
Chelsea sponsored the Sauber Formula 1 team, which now races as Alfa Romeo, in 2012.
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