Reddit co-founder Ohanian buys 10% stake in WSL side Chelsea, source says
FILE PHOTO: Alexis Ohanian, founder of Seven Seven Six and co-founder and former executive chairman of Reddit, speaks at the 2023 Milken Institute Global Conference in Beverly Hills, California, U.S., May 3, 2023. REUTERS/Mike Blake/File Photo
Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and husband of tennis great Serena Williams, has acquired a 10% stake in Women's Super League champions Chelsea, a source told Reuters.
Ohanian's investment of 20 million pounds ($26.52 million) values the London-based club at about 200 million pounds.
The 42-year-old has been involved in women's soccer before and was the largest shareholder of Angel City, which he helped launch to great fanfare in 2020, before it was sold for $250 million in 2024.
He also founded Athlos NYC, a women-only track and field meet that hosted its inaugural event in September with the winners each pocketing $60,000.
According to a report in the Times on Wednesday, Ohanian and Williams will be in attendance at Wembley Stadium on Sunday to watch Chelsea take on Manchester United in the women's FA Cup final.
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.
Earlier this month, Chelsea won their sixth consecutive WSL title, finishing unbeaten in their league campaign and setting a points record.
They also won the Women's League Cup in March and reached the semi-finals of the Women's Champions League, where they were knocked out by holders Barcelona. REUTERS
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