Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has said he has entrusted trustees of the club’s charitable foundation with the “stewardship and care” of the Premier League side.

Abramovich, 55, has owned reigning European champions Chelsea since 2003.

The move comes after Britain’s parliament learned on Thursday that Abramovich would have to hand over the club following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A statement posted on the Chelsea website on Saturday evening said: “In my almost 20 years as owner of Chelsea FC, I have always considered my role as the club’s caretaker, whose job it is to ensure that we Let’s be as successful as possible today, while building for the future, while playing a positive role in our communities.

“I have always taken decisions in the interests of the club. I remain committed to these values.

“That is why I today entrust the trustees of the Chelsea Charitable Foundation with the management and care of Chelsea FC.

“I think they are currently in the best position to defend the interests of the club, the players, the staff and the supporters.”

Abramovich’s position as owner of Chelsea has come under intense scrutiny this week.

On Thursday, Chris Bryant, a Labor MP, told Trade Questions in the House of Commons on Thursday that he had obtained documents from 2019 that link Abramovich to illicit finance and “malicious activity”.

Abramovich has always vehemently denied being close to the Kremlin or doing anything that would get him punished.

Earlier in the week, Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed Abramovich was already under UK government sanctions, but his spokesman later clarified that the Prime Minister had ‘misspoken’ in the House of Commons.

More soon.

(Photo: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images)