Archive May 14, 2025

Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian has bought a stake in Women’s Super League champions Chelsea.

Ohanian, who is the husband of American tennis star Serena Williams, will have a seat on the club’s board after purchasing a 10% share, believed to be worth £20m.

In a post to X, Ohanian said: “I’ve bet big on women’s sports before, and I’m doing it again.

“I’m proud to announce that I’m joining Chelsea as an investor and board member. I’m honored for the chance to help this iconic club become every American’s favorite WSL team and much, much more.”

He also posted images of Chelsea kits with the names of his children, Olympia and Adira, on the backs.

Ohanian, who also owns shares in the TGL Golf League, founded social media giant Reddit and has an estimated net worth of $150 billion.

His £20m investment puts the value of Chelsea women at £200m, which was the value placed on the club when Chelsea FC Holdings sold the team to a sister company earlier this year to help the Blues adhere to profit and sustainability rules.

It marks the latest boardroom change for Chelsea, who recently appointed Aki Mandhar as their first dedicated chief executive officer for the women’s team.

Earlier this month, Chelsea won their sixth consecutive WSL title. They became the first side to finish a 22-game campaign unbeaten and set a new league record of 60 points.

They also won the Women’s League Cup in March and are going for a domestic treble when they meet Manchester United in the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.

Flavio Briatore heads into this weekend’s Emilia-Romagna Grand Prix at the helm of the embattled Alpine team – but he is not team principal, an employee or even a licence holder in Formula 1.

Alpine’s former team principal, Briton Oliver Oakes, resigned on 6 May, citing “personal reasons”.

Briatore, who is employed on a consultancy basis by parent company Renault, is “covering the duties previously performed by Oakes”, Alpine has said.

But it has emerged he is not the person responsible for the team in the eyes of governing body the FIA.

He cannot be – because he is not a member of staff, and does not hold an F1 licence, as is required of people in such authority by the FIA’s competitor’s staff registration system.

In the absence of a new team principal, racing director Dave Greenwood is the “dedicated responsible person”, an Alpine spokesperson said.

Greenwood rejoined Alpine in January from Oakes’ HiTech organisation. He had previously been at Ferrari, Manor/Marussia, and Renault, where he worked under Briatore.

Asked why Briatore is not a staff member or licence holder, an Alpine spokesperson said: “Flavio came into the team as executive adviser and remains a consultant. There’s nothing more to it, or to read into it.”

An FIA spokesperson said: “Alpine have complied with all regulatory requirements relating to the departure of Mr Oakes, and have submitted their updated staff registration.

“We believe it is down to Alpine to provide an update on their management structure so we will not comment on any specific person holding a certificate of registration.”

Briatore remains the de facto boss of Alpine F1, with ultimate authority under Renault Group chief executive officer Luca de Meo.

The 75-year-old Italian was brought in last summer to turn the team’s ailing fortunes around.

It was a controversial appointment.

Briatore led two previous guises of this team to a total of four world-title doubles – two as Benetton in 1994-95 with Michael Schumacher, and two as Renault in 2005-06 with Fernando Alonso.

But he is notorious for his involvement in the so-called ‘crash-gate’ scandal, when Nelson Piquet Jr deliberately crashed his Renault during the 2008 Singapore Grand Prix as part of a plan to advantage team-mate Alonso, who went on to win the race.

The plot did not become public knowledge until a year later, when Briatore was given an indefinite ban from the sport by the FIA.

This was overturned by a French court in 2010, but Briatore had had no active involvement in F1 since, other than as a behind-the-scenes managerial adviser to Alonso.

Teams have to submit their proposals for the identity of six “main members” of staff to the FIA for approval – a team principal, sporting director, technical director, team manager and two race engineers.

The so-called competitor’s staff registration system, which is designated under the FIA practice directions, is in place to “preserve and protect the FIA Formula 1 World Championship”.

The FIA has the right to refuse a certificate of registration if someone is “under a disciplinary sanction” or “in breach of the FIA code of good standing”.

These decisions are subject to appeal.

The FIA lists a series of examples “which might constitute an infringement of this code”.

Manchester City hold a meeting with Florian Wirtz, Liverpool have also made contact with the Bayer Leverkusen forward, Real Madrid’s Rodrygo is the subject of Premier League interest.

Manchester City have met with Bayer Leverkusen forward Florian Wirtz, 22, over a potential summer move for the German. (Bild)

However, Liverpool have also made contact with Wirtz to express interest in signing the playmaker this summer. (Athletic – subscription required)

Premier League clubs including Manchester City and Arsenal are circling Real Madrid forward Rodrygo, 24, amid reports of the Brazilian falling out with club staff. (AS – in Spanish)

Real Madrid are willing to pay the £50m release clause to sign Spanish central defender Dean Huijsen, 20, from Bournemouth. (Sky Sports)

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee, 23, is a summer transfer target for Inter Milan after the Dutchman’s disappointing campaign. (Corriere dello Sport – in Italian)

Liverpool will not accept an £850,000 fee from Real Madrid to allow defender Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, to make an early move to the Spanish club. (Sun)

Newcastle have moved ahead of Chelsea in the race to sign English defender Marc Guehi, 24, from Crystal Palace. (Teamtalk)

Bayern Munich have agreed a fee with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Germany centre-back Jonathan Tah, 29. (Fabrizio Romano)

Barcelona are keen to rival Arsenal in moving for Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia, 24. (AS – in Spanish)

Barcelona are willing to offload up to eight first-team players this summer in order to finance transfers and new contracts. (Mirror)

Barca want to sign a central defender, a full-back and a winger as cover for 17-year-old Spain star Lamine Yamal. (Espn)

RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons is ready to leave the club this summer, despite the 22-year-old Netherlands midfielder only signing a permanent deal in January. (Fabrizio Romano)