Conor McGregor Offers Roman Abramovich £1.5 Billion for Chelsea FC

McGregor has previously voiced interest in purchasing another English football club, Manchester United. Last year, the Irishman became the world’s highest-paid athlete, surpassing such sports heavyweights as football superstars Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

UFC star Conor McGregor has thrown his hat into the bidding war for Chelsea after the club's owner, Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, said that he would sell it amid tensions between the West and Moscow over Ukraine.

In a post on Twitter, the 33-year-old wrote: "I hereby put forward my offer of £1.5bn". Earlier this week, the athlete said he had explored the possibility of purchasing the club.

His statement comes after Swiss medical magnate Hansjorg Wyss voiced his desire to purchase the acclaimed football club as part of a consortium with "six or seven" investors. The billionaire said he is already in talks with Abramovich, although he did not elaborate on the price he offered the Russian entrepreneur.

Reports say Abramovich has already turned down offers of £2.2 billion ($2.9 billion). The Daily Mail claims that the Blues' owner wants a minimum of £3 billion, while Sky News reported that Abramovich is ready to part ways with the club for no less than £4 billion and has hired a US merchant bank to conduct the sale.

It is unclear how McGregor plans to purchase the club – although last year, he became the world’s highest-paid athlete, with his net worth estimated at around $200 million.

The UFC star, who has successfully launched a whiskey brand, has also voiced interest in buying another acclaimed English football club, Manchester United. Like Chelsea, the price for the Red Devils (£3.1 billion) is far higher than the sum on the Irishman’s bank account.

Last week, Roman Abramovich announced that he would give "stewardship and care" of Chelsea to charitable foundation trustees amid tensions between the West and Russia. The standoff began after Russia launched a special operation in Ukraine. According to President Vladimir Putin, the operation is aimed at de-Nazifying and demilitarising Ukraine as well as protecting the residents of two breakaway regions – the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics.

Moscow stressed that there is no threat to the civilian population, as Russian forces are only targeting military infrastructure – air bases, air defence systems, etc.

Ukraine and Western nations have condemned Moscow’s actions and called them an "invasion". Western countries have also introduced sanctions on Moscow, the harshest to date. The punitive measures have targeted banks, businesses, payment systems, as well as billionaires that the West has claimed are in President Putin’s inner circle.

From 2000 to 2008, Roman Abramovich was the governor of Russia’s autonomous region of Chukotka. UK media have repeatedly speculated that he has strong ties with the Russian head of state, a claim the entrepreneur has denied.

British lawmakers have called on the government to sanction all Russian billionaires, Abramovich included. Reports suggest he is selling Chelsea as well as his other assets in Britain to avoid punitive measures.

The ex-official said he would donate all proceeds to "victims of the war in Ukraine". This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting long-term recovery work.

Abramovich also said that he would not ask for any loans to be repaid. The billionaire, who bought Chelsea for £140 million in 2003, has loaned the club £1.5 billion.

"This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club", he wrote in a statement.