Jets owner Woody Johnson opens up about the failed Chelsea bid

PALM BEACH, Fla. — Jets owner Woody Johnson spoke Monday about his failed bid for English soccer club Chelsea.

Johnson reportedly bid $2.6 billion for the English Premier League team but was not selected as one of the finalists. Johnson said he, along with his family, started supporting the team when he was US Ambassador to the UK from 2017-21.

“My interest in Chelsea is that I’m a Chelsea fan,” said Johnson. “When I was over there, I couldn’t be a fan of any particular team. I had to be diplomatic. I had to like all teams but we were Chelsea fans. It’s London’s team. I thought the concept of New York and London was one that we could handle pretty well. I thought it would be another interesting venture for us.”

Johnson found out last week that his bid was not pushed ahead.

“Don’t get Chelsea [is] disappointing,” Johnson said, “but the numbers have gotten so huge that on the one hand I’m disappointed and on the other hand I think it’s going to be a big challenge financially.”