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Todd Boehly Admits Chelsea Signed Marc Cucurella Because Man City Wanted Him

The remarks underscore owner-led recruiting in Chelsea’s first post-takeover window.

Overview

  • Speaking at the iConnections event on March 1, Boehly said his 2022 decision came during a stint as interim sporting director after the club’s management team departed.
  • Chelsea paid a reported fee of about £60–62 million to sign Cucurella from Brighton in 2022.
  • Cucurella endured a difficult start and was close to a 2023 loan to Manchester United, then became a regular, won the Conference League and Club World Cup, and signed a contract extension in November.
  • He is currently sidelined with a muscle injury, with reports indicating he would miss a third straight match in Sunday’s visit to Arsenal.
  • Chelsea has since shifted to a formal recruitment structure under co-sporting directors Paul Winstanley and Laurence Stewart, after a period marked by heavy outlay of roughly £1.5 billion on 37 first‑team players.