Chelsea co-owner Todd Boehly has shed light on the club’s long-term contract strategy and the challenges of signing a top striker.

Speaking at the Financial Times Business of Football Summit, Boehly addressed Chelsea’s recruitment approach when questioned about their pursuit of a new forward.

“Strikers are hard to find. You can’t get one from the grocery store,” Boehly explained. “It’s an amazing skillset, and you have to have a fantastic mentality.”

He emphasised that Chelsea’s project is built on a long-term vision rather than short-term fixes.

“The most misunderstood thing is that we’re thinking about it measured in years, not months,” he said.

“You have to think both short and long-term. We’re focused on a combination of both and seeking the best possible way to execute that. It’s a balancing act to figure that out.”

Boehly admitted that ownership has been a learning experience, but he remains committed to the process.

“You have to have a plan and exercise it, accept that things are not linear and that the thing that matters is that the trend is in the right direction,” he noted.

“Yes, it’s been a steep learning curve. We’ve been here for less than three years, and that’s been a whirling dervish of activity. Nothing is a straight line, ever, and sport is so humbling.”

The Chelsea co-owner also justified the club’s long-term contract approach, which has seen several players sign deals of up to seven or eight years.

“If you look at contracts in football, a seven-year contract is really a five-year contract,” Boehly explained.

“The reality is that 95 per cent of the time, by then you have to make a decision, or you’ll shoot yourself in the foot.”

He outlined the crucial moment when clubs must either extend a player’s contract or prepare for a transfer.

“At that point, you either agree an extension with the player or that greener pastures are out there for both sides. If you deny that, you are kidding yourself.”

Boehly also highlighted the reasoning behind Chelsea’s long contracts.

“We felt the longer contracts meant we could amortise, but it was also about how we put together a team with the ability to stay together.”

He linked this approach to building a team with strong leadership over time.

“Teams that are dynasties over the years had superstar captains that were able to lead. But how do you find those superstar captains?”

Finally, Boehly acknowledged the global nature of football recruitment.

“And in football, the market is obviously across multiple countries – so you’re thinking France, Germany, Brazil, Latin America – basically everywhere around the world.”

With Chelsea still searching for consistency under the new regime, Boehly remains confident that their long-term strategy will pay off.