Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has announced his decision to sell the West London club.

The 55-year-old, who has owned Chelsea since 2003, distanced himself from the club over the weekend by handing over his ‘stewardship and care’ to the trustees of Chelsea’s charitable Foundation.

The UK Government has faced calls to freeze Abramovich’s assets, as well as anyone who allegedly has ties with Vladimir Putin, as part of its sanctions against Russia.

The Russian billionaire said: “It pains me to part with the Club in this manner. However, I do believe this is in the best interest of the Club”.

“I hope that I will be able to visit Stamford Bridge one last time to say goodbye to all of you.

“I have always taken decisions with the Club’s best interest at heart. I have taken the decision to SELL the Club”.

“I believe this is in the best interest of the Club, the fans, the employees, as well as the Club’s sponsors and partners”.

Abramovich added that net proceeds from the sale of the club will be donated to a foundation “for the benefit of all victims of the war in Ukraine”.

Swiss billionaire Hansjorg Wyss has claimed he has been offered the chance to buy the club.

Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has had his assets frozen and been handed an EU travel ban over the invasion of Ukraine in a move that could affect Everton.

A number of countries and organisations, including the EU, have laid down sanctions against Russia over the invasion.

The former part-owner of Arsenal has commercial ties to Everton.

And now Premier League Everton may find themselves caught up in it due to USM Holding, the company that sponsors their training ground.

It is owned by Alisher Usmanov and he has now had his assets frozen by the EU as well as a travel ban.

An EU Council statement said: “Alisher Usmanov is a pro-Kremlin oligarch with particularly close ties to Russian president Vladimir Putin.”

It added that he “actively supported materially or financially Russian decision-makers responsible for the annexation of Crimea and the destabilisation of Ukraine”.

On Tuesday, Usmanov made a statement on the website of the International Fencing Federation, an organisation of which he is president, calling the EU’s decision to impose restrictions on him “unfair”.

He said he would “use all legal means to protect my honour and reputation”.

The EU has frozen the assets and imposed a travel ban on more than half a dozen of Russia’s most prominent oligarchs, including Mikhail Fridman, Igor Sechin, Nikolai Tokarev, and now Alisher Usmanov.

Photo Credit: TheEvertonEnd/Twitter

Paris Saint-Germain have reportedly offered Real Madrid and Liverpool target Kylian Mbappe a new deal worth an eye-watering £800,000-a-WEEK.

Get French Football News claims PSG chiefs are desperate for Mbappe to stay at the Parc des Princes.

The World Cup winner, 23, is out of contract this summer. And having so far resisted calls to pen an extension, Mbappe looks set to become a free agent.

Real Madrid are leading the race for his coveted signature. Meanwhile, Liverpool are also plotting an incredible swoop to bring Mbappe to England.

However, PSG are making one last desperate play to keep Mbappe – for two more seasons, at least.

They have apparently offered the striker a new contract until 2024, which means Mbappe could yet secure a lucrative move abroad before he enters his prime years.