Clearlake Capital is part of the ownership group behind Chelsea FC in England and RC Strasbourg Alsace in France. The clubs are held through BlueCo, the investment group formed by Clearlake, Todd Boehly, and their partners—not owned by Clearlake alone.
This article explains which teams are involved, how the ownership arrangement works, and why Chelsea and Strasbourg are often discussed together. It also clears up a common misunderstanding: a shared ownership group does not make the two clubs one team.
What sports teams does clearlake capital own?
The direct answer is Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg Alsace, both professional soccer clubs. BlueCo acquired Chelsea in 2022 and Strasbourg in 2023. Clearlake Capital is a leading investor in the ownership group, alongside Boehly and other partners.
“Own” can be misleading here. Clearlake is not the only owner acting independently; the clubs sit under a consortium structure. In practical terms, the relevant sports holdings are the two clubs associated with BlueCo.
| Club | Country and league | How it is connected to Clearlake | Best way to understand it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chelsea FC | England; Premier League | Acquired in 2022 by a consortium led by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, operating through BlueCo | BlueCo’s best-known club and a major English football team |
| RC Strasbourg Alsace | France; Ligue 1 | Acquired by BlueCo in 2023 | A separate French club within the same ownership group |
How Clearlake’s connection to the clubs works
Clearlake Capital is a private equity firm. Private equity firms invest in businesses through funds and ownership vehicles, rather than usually buying an asset in the firm’s name as a single person might buy a house. In this case, the clubs are associated with BlueCo, the holding and ownership group connected to Clearlake, Boehly, and their partners.
That distinction matters because reports may describe Clearlake as an owner, a majority investor, or part of a consortium. Those terms can refer to different parts of the structure. The safest plain-language description is that Clearlake is a leading investor in the group that owns the clubs, not their sole proprietor.
The purchase of Chelsea followed the sale of the club by Roman Abramovich in 2022. BlueCo then added Strasbourg to its portfolio in 2023. The ownership links the clubs at the investor level, while each remains a distinct football club with its own identity, supporters, competition, and local history.
Are Chelsea and Strasbourg one club?
No. Chelsea and Strasbourg are separate clubs in separate countries. Chelsea plays in England’s Premier League, while Strasbourg competes in France’s Ligue 1. Each has its own first team, staff, stadium, supporters, and place in its domestic football system.
The connection is a multi-club ownership model: one ownership group holds interests in more than one club. Such a model can create opportunities to share business knowledge or develop players across a group. It does not automatically mean players will move between clubs or that either side is required to follow the other’s sporting decisions.
BlueCo has described Strasbourg as retaining its own sporting identity and operations. That distinction is useful for fans: common investors do not erase the clubs’ separate histories, and the teams still compete as opponents when their schedules bring them together.
Does Clearlake own Chelsea Women as a separate team?
Chelsea Women is part of Chelsea Football Club’s wider club structure, rather than a third, unrelated team acquired separately by Clearlake. The same broad point applies to Chelsea’s academy teams: they are parts of the club’s football operation, not separate clubs on the list of BlueCo acquisitions.
So, if you are counting clubs, the straightforward answer remains two: Chelsea and Strasbourg. If you are counting all squads and departments associated with those clubs, the number is larger, but those teams are not separate ownership acquisitions.
What the ownership means for each club
Chelsea FC
Chelsea is the English club at the center of the 2022 BlueCo purchase. Its men’s and women’s teams, academy, and wider club organization make it the best-known football property connected to Clearlake. The club competes in the Premier League and plays its home matches at Stamford Bridge in London.
For readers asking about American sports franchises, Chelsea is not an NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL team. It is a soccer club, and the Clearlake connection is through the consortium that bought it.
RC Strasbourg Alsace
Strasbourg is the French club acquired by BlueCo in 2023. It is based in Strasbourg, in the Alsace region, and competes in Ligue 1. Its inclusion means Clearlake’s sports ownership is not limited to one English club or one national league.
Strasbourg is not Chelsea’s reserve team. Although shared ownership can lead to discussion about recruitment or player development links, the two clubs remain independent competitors in their own leagues. Any specific transfer or operational arrangement should be assessed on its own facts, rather than assumed from the ownership connection.
Why people get the ownership story wrong
Three details often cause confusion:
- “Clearlake owns Chelsea” is shorthand. Clearlake is part of a broader ownership group, and BlueCo is the name commonly associated with the clubs.
- There are two clubs, not one combined club. Chelsea and Strasbourg keep separate teams and identities despite their shared ownership link.
- Club squads are not the same as club acquisitions. Chelsea Women and youth teams belong within the Chelsea structure; they are not extra BlueCo club purchases.
Ownership structures can also change, and private investment stakes are not always described consistently in public coverage. For a current ownership check, look for a recent club announcement or a reliable report that distinguishes the holding group from its individual investors. This is more useful than relying on a headline that uses “owner” without explaining the arrangement.
How to check a sports ownership claim
If you encounter a claim that Clearlake owns another team, use these steps before adding it to the list:
- Identify the legal or holding entity. Check whether the claim names BlueCo, Clearlake directly, or another investment vehicle.
- Confirm the club and acquisition. Look for an announcement from the club or ownership group that names the team and transaction.
- Separate ownership from partnership. Sponsorship, lending, a minority investment, and full control are different relationships.
- Check the date. Ownership can change, so an older article may no longer describe the current arrangement.
This distinction prevents a common error: treating every business relationship as proof that a firm owns a team. Based on the publicly known BlueCo acquisitions, the two clubs to name are Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg Alsace.
Clearlake Capital’s sports holdings are most accurately described as Chelsea FC and RC Strasbourg Alsace, held through the BlueCo consortium. Clearlake is a leading investor in that group, not the clubs’ sole owner, and the two teams remain separate football clubs.
For a quick verification, check the latest ownership statements from Chelsea and Strasbourg, then confirm whether a report names BlueCo or Clearlake itself. That simple step helps distinguish the clubs in the portfolio from other teams that may only have a business connection.