Owner Roman Abramovich confirms sale of Chelsea F.C.

In a statement released by Chelsea, Abramovich said his decision was with "the Club's best interest at heart."

"The sale of the Club will not be fast-tracked but will follow due process," Abramovich said in the statement. "I will not be asking for any loans to be repaid. This has never been about business nor money for me, but about pure passion for the game and Club."

Abramovich has come under massive fire in the wake of Russia's invasion of Ukraine due to his alleged connections to Russian president Vladimir Putin. Abramovich, who hails from the Russian city of Saratov, added in his statement that the football club will donate to those impacted by the invasion following his departure.

"Moreover, I have instructed my team to set up a charitable foundation where all net proceeds from the sale will be donated. The foundation will be for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine. This includes providing critical funds towards the urgent and immediate needs of victims, as well as supporting the long-term work of recovery," he said.

"Please know that this has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, and it pains me to part with the Club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the Club."

Earlier this week, it was reported Abramovich accepted a request from the Ukrainian government to help negotiate peace with Russia.