Roman Abramovich's stance on football return, new net worth and £85m Chelsea parting gift

Roman Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea for £2.5billion almost four and a half years ago and is now the subject of a new documentary

Ex-Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich is the subject of a new BBC investigative documentary. It has been almost four and a half years since he was effectively forced to sell up in west London.

The 59-year-old acquired Chelsea in July 2003 for £140million and throughout his 19-year ownership, Chelsea secured five Premier League titles and won the Champions League twice, alongside a horde of other honours.

However, Abramovich faced financial sanctions in 2022 as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine and was instructed by the British government to divest rapidly. All his UK assets were frozen, including his ownership of Chelsea. This was ultimately transferred in May 2022 following the granting of a Special Licence, with investment consortium Blue Co swooping in to take over the club.

The consortium was fronted by Todd Boehly, as well as Clearlake Capital. Though Boehly and fellow owner Mark Walter sold their shares to Clearlake in September of this year. The £2.5billion in proceeds from the 2022 purchase remain frozen amid ongoing legal battles.

What is Roman Abramovich's current net worth?

Abramovich is believed to currently divide his time between Turkey, Dubai and Moscow. His two superyachts, Eclipse and Solaris, valued at £530m and £430m respectively, remain moored in Turkish waters. While UK sanctions have impacted the billionaire's wealth, his fortune remains staggering.

Independent wealth trackers including Forbes estimate Abramovich's current worth at between £6.8billion and £7.1billion. Prior to sanctions, his net worth stood at an estimated £10.5bn to £13.5bn. However, numerous assets remain frozen, restricted or subject to court orders.

The £2.5bn from Chelsea's sale is presently held in a UK bank account by former parent company Fordstam Ltd, with the UK government stipulating that 100 per cent of net proceeds must go towards humanitarian assistance for Ukrainian war victims, though the transfer remains legally blocked.

Additionally, £5.4bn in financial assets were frozen by the Royal Court of Jersey in 2022 following the launch of a criminal investigation. No charges have been brought, and Abramovich's legal representatives escalated proceedings in April, arguing that Jersey's asset freeze and investigation are "unfair and abusive."

They have repeatedly rejected any allegations of wrongdoing. This legal impasse directly affects the release of Chelsea's sale proceeds. Further complications include various property holdings across England and Europe, alongside private aviation assets and equity investments.

What was Roman Abramovich's£85million Chelsea gift?

Despite Abramovich's departure from Stamford Bridge, he inadvertently left the club with a parting present: a substantial windfall ultimately secured through their 2025 FIFA Club World Cup triumph.

Chelsea emerged victorious when the revamped 32-team Club World Cup tournament debuted in the United States. They defeated numerous elite sides before overcoming Paris Saint-Germain in the final, accumulating total tournament earnings approaching £85m.

Abramovich's relevance stems from Chelsea's qualification for the competition, which hinged on their 2021 Champions League victory during his tenure as owner.

The Blues secured a 1-0 victory against Manchester City in Porto to claim the trophy for just the second time in their history, guaranteeing their place in the inaugural expanded Club World Cup and ultimately delivering them this significant financial boost.

What are Roman Abramovich's thoughts on owning another club?

Speculation emerged last year suggesting Abramovich might re-enter football club ownership, with Turkish media reports linking him to a potential investment in Galatasaray.

FOLLOW OUR CHELSEA FB PAGE! Latest Blues news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

Nevertheless, the billionaire dismissed these claims, simply reaffirming an earlier position. In the 2025 publication Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC, Abramovich explicitly confirms his days of club ownership are behind him.

"I don't have any interest in any role in a football club, certainly not a professional role," he said. "There might be something where I could help with academies and youngsters, giving greater opportunities to people from difficult backgrounds, if there were an initiative that could make a difference.

"But as for ownership or a professional role at a club, I am done with that in this lifetime."