Lewis Hamilton and Serena Williams to invest in bid to buy Chelsea

Seven-time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton and 23-time Grand Slam winner Serena Williams have joined a bid to buy Chelsea Football Club.

The sporting giants have joined a consortium spearheaded by Sir Martin Broughton, the former chairman of Liverpool FC.

According to Sky Sports, both Hamilton and Williams have pledged an estimated £10 million each to the bid.

Canadia’s Rogers family, the Tsai family of Taiwan, and brewing magnate Alejandro Santo Domingo have also joined the consortium, which includes financial backing from American private equity billionaires Josh Harris and Dave Blitzer.

As minority shareholders of Crystal Palace, Harris and Blitzer would be forced to sell their stake in the Premier League club if they were to take over Chelsea.

Hamilton and Williams, who have become good friends after dominating their respective sports, are both now established investors in their own right.

Williams has founded Serena Ventures, a firm that invests in start-up companies and projects, and empowers them to “change the world.”

Hamilton has previously backed a number of early-stage companies such as Zapp, the London-based rapid grocery delivery app.

Chelsea has been up for sale since current owner Roman Abramovich was sanctioned by the UK Government following the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February.

The oligarch had his assets frozen due to his “close relationship” with President Vladimir Putin.

While Abramovich remains in the club, they can no longer perform day-to-day transactions, including the sale of transfers and match tickets.

There are three bids competing to take control of The Blues. Alongside Sir Martin Broughton’s attempt, LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca