Abramovich Threatens Legal Fight Over £2.35B Chelsea Sale Funds
Sports Updated: 10 March 2026 13:10 EAT
Former Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovic
Lawyers representing Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich have warned the British government that the £2.35 billion generated from the sale of Chelsea FC legally belongs to him, raising the possibility of a court battle over the frozen funds. The warning was reportedly delivered to the administration led by Keir Starmer as tensions grow over the future of the money.
The funds have remained frozen in the United Kingdom since 2022, when Abramovich was forced to sell Chelsea following sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs after the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. The club was eventually sold to a consortium led by American investor Todd Boehly.
At the time of the sale, the British government allowed the transaction to proceed on the condition that Abramovich would not personally benefit from the deal. The £2.35 billion was placed in a frozen account while officials worked on a mechanism to ensure the money would go toward humanitarian support.
Abramovich had previously pledged that the proceeds would be donated to victims affected by the war in Ukraine. However, disagreements between his representatives and the UK government over how the funds should be distributed have delayed the release of the money for nearly four years.
British authorities have maintained that the funds must be directed specifically toward humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. Officials have been exploring legal options to transfer the money into a charitable foundation designed to support victims of the conflict.
Abramovich’s legal team, however, argues that the frozen funds remain the property of his company and cannot be seized without proper legal justification. The lawyers have indicated that they are prepared to challenge any attempt by the government to confiscate the money through the courts.
The dispute has highlighted the complex legal and political issues surrounding sanctions and asset freezes imposed after the start of the war. It also raises broader questions about the handling of sanctioned individuals’ assets once they are placed under government restrictions.
With the money still frozen and negotiations ongoing, the standoff between Abramovich and the UK government appears far from resolved, setting the stage for a potential legal showdown over one of the largest sums ever linked to a football club sale.
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FELIX MAKONA
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