The 2022–23 season was Chelsea Football Club's 117th year in existence and 34th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. In addition to the domestic league, Chelsea participated in this season's editions of the FA Cup, EFL Cup and UEFA Champions League.
The season covers the period from 1 July 2022 to 30 June 2023. This was the first full season under new owner and chairman Todd Boehly after he officially acquired the club on 30 May 2022, making it the first season since 2002–03 without Roman Abramovich. It was also the first time in Chelsea's history that they were under four different managers in a single season. This was the first season since 1995–96 that the team failed to finish in the top half of the league table and the club's lowest league finish since ending the 1993–94 season in 14th place.
Kits
Season summary
On 23 May, it was announced that long-serving goalkeeping coach Christophe Lollichon would leave the club after having joined from Rennes in 2007 to help with the training of former goalkeeper Petr Čech.
On 28 May, Chelsea released a statement via the club website stating that "Chelsea Football Club can confirm that a final and definitive agreement was entered into last night to sell the Club to the Todd Boehly/Clearlake Capital consortium. It is expected that the transaction will be completed on Monday."
The consortium led by Todd Boehly, chairman and CEO of Eldridge Industries, and Clearlake Capital, announced completion of the ownership transfer of Chelsea on 30 May 2022. The consortium also includes Hansjörg Wyss, founder of the Wyss Foundation, and Mark Walter, co-founder and CEO of Guggenheim Partners. Walter and Boehly are partial owners of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the Los Angeles Lakers, and the Los Angeles Sparks. The transaction has received all necessary approvals from The Government of the United Kingdom, The Premier League, and other authorities.
It was announced on 20 June that long-serving Chairman Bruce Buck would step-down after 19 years in the role effective on 30 June. A further statement was released on 22 June announcing a new-look Board of Directors including Boehly, Eghbali, Feliciano, Walter, Wyss as well as Jonathan Goldstein, Barbara Charone, Daniel Finkelstein and James Pade. It was also revealed that long serving Marina Granovskaia left the club, with Boehly acting as interim Sporting Director as well as chairman. The club then announced on 27 June that Petr Čech would leave his role as technical and performance advisor at the end of the month.
On 13 July, Chelsea announced their first signing of the season, with English international winger Raheem Sterling joining the club for a reported fee of £47.5 million. Three days later, they completed the signing of Kalidou Koulibaly for a reported fee of £33 million.
In the first match of the new Premier League season, Chelsea defeated Everton 1–0 at Goodison Park, with Jorginho scoring a penalty. The second game of the season saw Chelsea face their North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur at Stamford Bridge. After a relatively quiet first half, Chelsea went into the break 1–0 up courtesy of defender Kalidou Koulibaly's first goal for the club – a volley from a Marc Cucurella corner. Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pierre-Emile Højbjerg equalised in the 68th minute, with Chelsea players and manager, Thomas Tuchel, unhappy that Kai Havertz had been fouled in the build-up to the goal, as well as Tottenham Hotspur forward Richarlison being in an offside position and obstructing Chelsea goalkeeper Édouard Mendy's view of Højbjerg's shot. In the aftermath of the goal, Tuchel squared up to Tottenham Hotspur manager, and former Chelsea boss, Antonio Conte, after Conte's exuberant celebrations. Both managers were shown yellow cards. Chelsea regained the lead through right-back Reece James' composed finish in the 77th minute.