Tennis star Serena Williams and Formula One titan Lewis Hamilton have joined Martin Broughton's bid to buy Chelsea, a source told Reuters on Thursday.
Former Liverpool chairman Broughton's consortium includes World Athletics president Sebastian Coe and wealthy investors from around the world, who the group says all wish to maintain Chelsea's top status in world football.
Private equity veterans Josh Harris and David Blitzer, who own sport teams including the NBA's Philadelphia 76ers, are also backing Broughton's bid.
A long-standing fan of Arsenal, Hamilton has seized the opportunity to invest in their London rivals. Representatives for Hamilton said he planned to invest more than £10 million ($13m) in the bid being fronted by Broughton and Coe.
Reuters have approached Broughton and Williams' representatives for comment.
Williams is already an investor in Los Angeles' Angel City FC, which will make its debut in the National Women's Soccer League later this month.
Final bids for Chelsea, which was put up for sale by owner Roman Abramovich amid sanctions being imposed on the oligarch by the British government after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, were submitted earlier this month.
Others on the shortlist to buy the Premier League club are L.A. Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuca.
A consortium led by Chicago Cubs owners the Ricketts family, which was formally opposed by the Chelsea Supporters' Trust, pulled out of the running.
The club's sale is being overseen by U.S. bank Raine Group.
Information from Associated Press was also included in this report.
