Roman Abramovich to sue UK government over £2.5bn from Chelsea sale

Lawyers for Roman Abramovich have officially announced they will take legal action against the British government to block an attempt to seize £2.5 billion originating from the sale of Chelsea FC. This sum, equivalent to approximately €2.9 billion, has remained frozen in a UK bank account since May 2022, when the transaction to sell the London club was finalized. Representatives of the oligarch argue that these funds are his exclusive property and deem any actions aimed at their confiscation as politically motivated. The dispute escalated when the London administration signaled its intention to finally resolve the status of these funds without the consent of the former owner. Chelsea FC was sold to a consortium led by Todd Boehly after sanctions were imposed on the Russian billionaire in connection with Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

The main axis of the conflict remains the method of distributing the frozen billions, which were originally intended to support victims of the ongoing armed conflict. Although Roman Abramovich initially declared he would donate the profits to those harmed by the war, the process has stalled due to fundamental differences in interpreting charitable goals. The UK government, led by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, demands that the money go exclusively to humanitarian aid delivered within Ukraine's borders. In contrast, the Russian oligarch's side advocates for a broader scope of support, which would also include war victims located outside that country's territory. The sale of Chelsea FC in 2022 was one of the most complex transactional processes in sports history, forced by British sanctions against individuals linked to the Kremlin. Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003 for £140 million, changing the balance of power in European football through massive investments. During nearly two decades of his ownership, the club won two Champions League trophies and five English league titles. The current legal deadlock concerning the proceeds from the sale is unprecedented in the scale of the UK's financial system.

The government's plan involves transferring the funds to a specially established foundation, to be managed by Mike Penrose, a former CEO of UNICEF UK. However, the oligarch's lawyers warn that any attempt at unilateral control over the deposit will be met with a decisive response in court. They emphasize that their client has not relinquished his rights to decide the fate of the frozen assets, despite earlier philanthropic promises. This situation places the British authorities in a difficult legal position, as they must balance sanctions policy with the protection of property rights. „Tentativa de confiscare a acestor fonduri este motivată politic și o vom contesta pe cale juridică” (The attempt to confiscate these funds is politically motivated and we will challenge it through legal channels.) — Representatives of Roman Abramovich's legal team via HotNews.ro 2,5 (miliarda funtów) — amount frozen in a UK bank account

There is currently no clear timeline indicating when these funds could realistically reach those in need, which is causing growing frustration among humanitarian organizations. The protracted legal dispute could mean the billions of pounds remain inaccessible for years to come, while the needs of war victims continue to grow. Roman Abramovich's lawyers consistently use the phrasing that the funds are entirely his property, which is intended to form the foundation of their litigation strategy. Faced with the announced court battle, the UK's Foreign Office and Treasury must prepare for a lengthy and costly process of international significance. History of the dispute over Chelsea sale proceeds: May 2022 — Club sale; May 2022 — Abramovich's declaration; 9 March 2026 — Legal fight warning