Chelsea Women have been sold in a deal valuing the club at $250 million, making them the world's most valuable women's sports team. The landmark valuation follows a strategic investment from Alexis Ohanian, the Reddit co-founder and husband of Serena Williams, who purchased a 10% stake through his venture capital firm Seven Seven Six in May 2025.

Ohanian's original investment in the Women's Super League club was around £20 million. He has been vocal about the dramatic shift in how women's sport is viewed by investors, contrasting the current climate with a past where it was often dismissed. "I remember talking to owners six years ago who genuinely felt the only reason they had a women’s soccer team was so that they could lose money to write off taxes," Ohanian said.

A billion-dollar ambition

His vision for Chelsea Women is far more ambitious. The investor has stated his goal is to build a billion-dollar women's sports team, a notion he admits was once considered radical. "To show up at the first board of governors meeting and say that I wanted to build a billion-dollar team was heretical," Ohanian noted. This investment is part of a broader portfolio for Ohanian, who also holds stakes in LOVB Los Angeles women's volleyball and the TGL Golf League, and co-founded the all-female Athlos athletics league.

The soaring valuation reflects the growing commercial power and fan engagement in women's football, a sector Ohanian admits he initially overlooked before recognising its community-driven potential. The financial milestone arrives as Chelsea Women continue a strong start to their domestic campaign. Emma Hayes's side currently sit third in the FA Women's Super League with seven points from three games, having scored eight goals and conceded just one. Their recent form includes a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City last Saturday, with goals from Aggie Potter and Melvine Malard.

This positive momentum sets the stage for a key London derby this weekend. Chelsea host rivals Arsenal at Kingsmeadow on Sunday, 27 September, a fixture that always carries significant weight in the title race. Arsenal currently sit sixth in the table, and Chelsea will be eager to avenge a 2-1 defeat from their last meeting earlier this month. The team's current squad depth and form are detailed on our squad page.

Ohanian's commitment signals a new era of serious investment for Chelsea Women, moving far beyond the tokenistic approaches of the past. The club's on-field success, combined with this groundbreaking financial valuation, positions them at the forefront of a rapidly evolving sport. Their next challenge is to translate that off-field value into silverware, starting with three points against Arsenal this Sunday.

More detail at thetimes.com