Roman Abramovich’s stance on football return, new net worth and £85m Chelsea parting gift

Former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has dismissed returning to professional football ownership as he features in a new BBC Panorama documentary. Abramovich stated that his ownership days are finished in this lifetime, though he remains open to youth academy initiatives. His current estimated net worth stands between £6.8 billion and £7.1 billion, with the £2.5 billion from Chelsea's 2022 sale still frozen in a UK bank account amid ongoing legal disputes.

The report also highlights an indirect £85 million parting gift Abramovich left Chelsea. The club earned the prize money by winning the expanded 2025 FIFA Club World Cup after defeating Paris Saint-Germain, a tournament Chelsea qualified for courtesy of their 2021 Champions League victory under Abramovich's ownership.