Summary
After purchasing Chelsea in 2003, Roman Abramovich played a crucial role in the club’s transformation into one of England’s best teams.
The Russian was forced to sell the club in 2022 and has been living in exile since then.
Rumours of Abramovich owning another football club have persisted, but they appear to be false.
Since Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital took over in 2022, Chelsea’s fortunes have not been as profitable as they were in previous years. The group paid a record cost of about £4.25 billion for the west London club, and it appears that they have spent the similar amount on players ever since, as seen by their inconsistent transfer strategies and alleged split.
While Enzo Maresca looks to have steadied the ship, winning the Europa Conference League and the Club World Cup at the end of his first season in command, the ownership shift resulted in two of the most turbulent and unsuccessful seasons at Stamford Bridge in recent memory. The Blues finished 12th in the Premier League during the 2022–23 season. They did improve the next year, finishing sixth, but this was still far below expectations and would not have been accepted by the previous government.
Roman Abramovich was a tough owner who was willing to make rapid choices on a manager’s future – a tendency that eventually paid off when he led Chelsea to their longest streak of continuous success in history. However, he was compelled to sell due to sanctions imposed on Russian oligarchs linked to Vladimir Putin in the aftermath of the country’s invasion of Ukraine. Abramovich’s life has changed dramatically in the years since his 2022 exit.
What Roman Abramovich is Doing Now
The billionaire is believed to be living in exile in Turkey
LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich watches from the stands during Chelsea’s Barclays Premier League match against Manchester City at Stamford Bridge on April 16, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images.) )
According to a January story in The Telegraph, the European Union’s travel prohibitions forced Abramovich into exile, with Turkey now functioning as his home base. The 58-year-old was well-known for his love of travel, usually visiting the Caribbean during the winter and other prestigious European destinations. However, the former Chelsea owner has had to cut back on his lifestyle, which has resulted in his super boat collection going virtually unused for the past three years.
Among them is his beloved £500 million yacht, The Eclipse, which now sits in the Turkish port city of Marmaris, where it has become virtually obsolete because its owner spends little time on it these days.
As for the man himself, it was claimed in 2023 that he shared his time between Sochi, Istanbul, and Tel Aviv, but he now appears to have made Istanbul his primary abode. Nevertheless, he continues to flaunt his wealth whenever feasible.
According to financial analysts Forbes, Abramovich’s net worth is believed to be over £7.96 billion. He is frequently observed living a luxurious lifestyle and generously rewarding those who assist him. Chef Omer Ataysin, for example, often feeds the Russian oligarch. Spicy kebabs and lamb tenderloin are said to be among his favourite foods.
Potential Return to Football
Return appears unlikely, as UK government threaten to sue him
While the father of seven appears to be living a quiet life away from the spotlight and may be acting as a go-between in peace talks between Russia and Ukraine, football fans continue to speculate whether the former Chelsea owner will return to the sport with another club.
Some speculated that Abramovich’s decision to settle in Istanbul was planned, with conjecture that he was interested in purchasing a football team from the city, as Galatasaray, Fenerbahce, and Besiktas are all located there. This was swiftly refuted, with a representative saying the report was completely incorrect.
Regarding his relationship with Chelsea, the 58-year-old had stated a wish to come to Stamford Bridge to say goodbye to the fans in person, but travel limitations prohibited him from doing so. It becomes increasingly improbable that such a visit will occur in the future.
Abramovich was also chastised for failing to follow through on commitments to make a significant charitable contribution with the proceeds from the club’s sale. According to the Daily Mail, this is because the monies have been locked in a London bank and the Russian is currently unable to access them.
In June 2025, BBC News revealed that the UK government has threatened to sue Abramovich to ensure that the proceeds from the sale of Chelsea go to Ukraine. The Russian earlier indicated that he wanted the money to be distributed to “all victims of the war in Ukraine,” but the UK government wants to ensure that the monies are utilised directly for Ukrainian humanitarian help.
“While the door to negotiations remains open, we are fully prepared to take this to the courts if necessary,” Chancellor Rachel Reeves and Foreign Secretary David Lammy said in a joint statement.
Abramovich No Longer Attends Football Matches
“It was always about Chelsea”
Adding to the notion that he is unlikely to invest in a new football club anytime soon, it has been revealed that as of early 2025, Abramovich has stopped attending games in person. A close buddy of Abramovich told The Sun (via Goa):
“Roman still enjoys football.” However, he no longer attends sporting events. It was all about Chelsea.”
As previously stated, upon his departure from Stamford Bridge, the Russian said: “I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you in person.” For the time being, a return to West London is doubtful.
His popularity in England, at least among rival clubs, will suffer as a result of the accusations brought against Chelsea for 74 violations of the FA’s Agent Regulation guidelines between 2009 to 2022. The majority of these occurred between 2010/11 and 2015/16, under Abramovich’s tenure.
With the Russian no longer at the club, the Blues are said to be completely cooperating with the probe and have opened their records to The FA, while a Premier League investigation is also underway. The charges mostly pertain to agent payments that were not properly documented on the books, including the signings of Eden Hazard, Samuel Eto’o, and Willian, all of whom were signed by Abramovich.
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