On Wednesday, May 14, Reddit co-founder and husband to tennis legend, Serena Williams, Alexis Ohanian, announced that he has acquired a 10% stake in Chelsea FC Women, the current Women’s Super League (WSL) champions.
Ohanian has taken on a dual role as both investor and board member of the club following a £20 million (approx. S$34 million) investment.
He shared news of his involvement through a post on his X account.
According to Reuters, his investments put the club’s value at over £200 million (approx. S$346 million).
This is consistent with figures from last year when the women’s team was formally separated from Chelsea FC Holdings and placed under the ownership of BlueCo, a group led by Todd Boehly.
Ohanian Has a Track Record in Women’s Sports
Ohanian is no stranger to investing in women’s sports. He was previously the largest shareholder in Angel City FC, the U.S.-based women’s football club he helped launch in 2020.
The team was then sold in 2024 for a record £192.3 million (approx. S$332 million), marking the most expensive sale of a women’s sports team at the time, BBC reported.
Ohanian’s passion for women’s sports isn’t limited to football.
He also founded Athlos NYC, a women-only track and field meet that held its first event in September, offering $60,000 (approx. S$77,630) to each event winner, one of the most generous payouts in the sport.
Chelsea Women’s CEO Welcomes Ohanian to the Board
Aki Mandhar, chief executive of Chelsea Women, called the investment a “landmark day” not just for the club, but for the wider landscape of women’s football.
She stated that the club is proud to welcome Ohanian and praised his commitment to the future of girls’ and women’s sports
Investment Focused on Growth and Development
Manager Sonia Bompastor confirmed that the investment will go entirely into the women’s team.
She stated that the funds will be used to improve key areas such as infrastructure, facilities, staff, and players, all of which are essential to help the team grow and stay competitive, especially at the European level.
The investment comes after Chelsea made structural changes last year, including separating the women’s and men’s teams.
This shift allowed the women’s team to receive direct investment.
Manager Sonia Bompastor acknowledged how important that decision was, stating that it made room for the kind of support needed to elevate the team.
Watch the video here:
@optussport Reddit founder and new 10% owner of Chelsea, Alexis Ohanian, was pitchside with his wife, Serena Williams, to watch the Blues lift the Women’s FA Cup 🏆 His ambition is to make Chelsea the ‘next global women’s sports brand’ 👏
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