Chelsea braced for bombshell Roman Abramovich interview release as former Blues owner finally lifts lid on £2.5bn sale to Todd Boehly & Clearlake Capital

Abramovich, who purchased Chelsea in 2003, sold the club to Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital in 2022 after the Russian oligarch was sanctioned following Russia's invasion of Ukraine due to his ties with president Vladimir Putin.

The 58-year-old has not spoken publicly since before the sale, but BBC Sport reports that a new two-part interview is to be published in the upcoming book titled 'Sanctioned: The Inside Story of the Sale of Chelsea FC'. Abramovich gave the first part of the interview in Istanbul last year, followed by another in Abu Dhabi in January.

Chelsea won five Premier League titles and two Champions League crowns under Abramovich's ownership, but they have struggled in the years following the takeover by the American consortium. The previous owner has not received any of the £2.5 billion ($3.3bn) Boehly and Co. agreed to pay for the club, with the funds remaining in a frozen bank account despite the assertion they would be used for humanitarian causes related to Ukraine.

Details of Chelsea's 2022 sale will be revealed when the book comes out this summer, while Enzo Maresca's Blues will attempt to boost their hopes of a return to next season's Champions League when they host Everton in the Premier League this weekend.