Todd Boehly ends Chelsea jinx on day of farewells as new Stamford Bridge era begins

Todd Boehly ended his Chelsea duck after Ross Barkley’s injury-time winner.

The American, who is set to complete his buyout of the club, was on the pitch to embrace Thomas Tuchel after the 2-1 win against Watford and mark the start of a new era at Stamford Bridge.

This was the final game of Roman Abramovich’s ownership.

Boehly will be at the helm when the new season starts – so it was a good time to watch his new investment win for the first time since beginning his £4.25bn bid to take control.

The businessman had watched Chelsea lose to Real Madrid, Arsenal and Liverpool – as well as draw with Wolves and Leicester.

Tuchel even joked midweek that he would have to watch from back home in Los Angeles from now on.

And Boehly must have feared the worst when Dan Gosling struck in the 87th-minute to cancel out Kai Havertz’ first half opener.

A season that has been allowed to go into drift in the final stages, looked like ending in that fashion, with Chelsea failing to take advantage of their dominance before succumbing to a late sucker punch.

But substitute, Barkley, was a bright spark after coming on, and came up with the decisive moment – heading home Reece James’ cross in the 91st-minute.

That finally gave Boehly the win he has been searching for – and perhaps he will look to co-owner Hansjorg Wyss to come along more often, with the Swiss billionaire sat alongside him in the executive seats.

This may have been Barkley’s final act as a Chelsea player on a day of goodbyes.

Gallery: Premier League cast-offs who went on to win the Champions League elsewhere (FourFourTwo)

Toni Rudiger was given a standing ovation after leaving the pitch, for Barkley, after 66 minutes.

Andreas Christensen did not even make the squad, along with