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Alexis Ohanian, the co-founder of Reddit and husband of tennis legend Serena Williams, has purchased a minority stake in Chelsea’s women’s soccer team.
Ohanian, 42, announced the news of his investment in the English club on X, sharing a screenshot of a story from The Times newspaper, which was the first to report the news.
“I’ve bet big on women’s sports before—and I’m doing it again. I’m proud to announce that I’m joining @ChelseaFCW as an investor and board member,” Ohanian said in a post.
“I’m honored for the chance to help this iconic club become America’s favorite @BarclaysWSL team and much, much more.”
The Times reported that Ohanian has bought an 8% stake in Chelsea Women and will take a shareholding of more than 20 million pounds in a deal that values the team at about 245 million pounds, making it the most valuable women’s team in the world.
Alexis Ohanian’s Previous Investments
This isn’t the first time the New Yorker has invested in women’s soccer. In 2020, he became the largest shareholder of NWSL club Angel City before it was sold for $250 million in 2024.
Chelsea are the most successful team in the Women’s Super League, having won the league title eight times. They also clinched this season’s title and the League Cup, and are aiming to complete the domestic treble by winning the FA Cup this weekend.
Chelsea face arch-rivals Manchester United in the FA Cup final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday, where Ohanian, Williams and their family are set to be in attendance.
“These players are rewriting the game. Undefeated season. Eyes on the treble. But this isn’t just about winning titles,” Ohanian said about the team.
“It’s about finally matching their talent with the resources, visibility, and respect they deserve. I’ve been right about this before and I couldn’t be more excited.”
Chelsea’s women’s team passed from Chelsea FC Holdings Limited to BlueCo, Todd Boehly’s consortium, last June in a deal worth around 198.7 million pounds. Following the sale, Chelsea Women appointed Aki Mandhar as their first-ever dedicated chief executive officer as part of a “repositioning” effort.
All of Alexis Ohanian’s investment will go to the women’s team.
