Reports: Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton join ownership group looking to buy Chelsea

Senior writer

Thu, 21 Apr 2022, 8:13 am·2-min read

Could two of the most famous athletes in the world soon have a stake in one of the biggest soccer clubs on the planet?

According to multiple media reports, Serena Williams and Lewis Hamilton have pledged money to be a part of a group attempting to buy London's Chelsea FC. The team is for sale under orders from the British government after longtime Russian owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned as a result of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Reports said that Williams and Hamilton had each pledged just over $13 million. The Daily Mail cited a spokesperson for Hamilton who confirmed his involvement in the bid but refuted the financial figure.

MIAMI, FLORIDA - APRIL 7: Serena Williams, professional tennis player, and businesswoman, speaks during the Bitcoin 2022 Conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center on April 7, 2022 in Miami, Florida. The worlds largest bitcoin conference runs from April 6-9, expecting over 30,000 people in attendance and over 7 million live stream viewers worldwide.(Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images) — Could Serena Williams soon have a stake in Chelsea? (Photo by Marco Bello/Getty Images)

Williams and Hamilton are part of an owner group led by former Liverpool and British Airways chairman Martin Broughton. His group is one of three remaining bids for control of Chelsea. The team currently sits third in the English Premier League standings.

Sky Sports noted that Hamilton's inclusion in the Chelsea bid was "unexpected" because the seven-time Formula 1 champion is an Arsenal fan. Arsenal and Chelsea are longtime rivals and Arsenal beat Chelsea 4-2 on Wednesday afternoon in a match that could be vital for Arsenal's hopes of Champions League soccer in 2022-23.

Broughton's ownership group would include a significant stake from Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment. HBS&E owns the Philadelphia 76ers and the New Jersey Devils, and currently owns a portion of Premier League club Crystal Palace.

Williams, a 23-time Grand Slam winner, is already a minority owner in NWSL club Angel City FC.

If the bid including Williams and Hamilton is the group that ends up buying Chelsea, the two stars will join LeBron James as minority owners of Premier League teams. James and Maverick Carter bought a 2% stake in Liverpool in April 2011. Liverpool's primary owners are the Fenway Sports Group, the consortium that owns the Boston Red Sox.