SERENA Williams and Lewis Hamilton have joined Martin Broughton’s bid to buy Chelsea. Their offer is one of three being considered by Roman Abramovich, club executives and the US bank Raine, which is overseeing the sale.

Williams, the winner of 23 tennis grand slam singles titles, and Hamilton, a seven-time Formula One world champion, have pledged what are understood to be small sums of money relative to a bid of more than £200M.

Broughton’s partners also include the World Athletics president, Sebastian Coe, and the owners of Philadelphia 76ers basketball team, Josh Harris and David Blitzer. Harris and Blitzer also have stakes in Crystal Palace and they will need to sell those to become shareholders at Chelsea.

“We can confirm Lewis has joined Sir Martin Broughton’s bid,” a spokesperson for Hamilton said. It is understood the Mercedes driver, who is an Arsenal fan, hopes that, among other things, he could have a positive effect on diversity and inclusion at Chelsea and in the club’s local community.

Williams is an investor in Los Angeles’ Angel City FC, who play in the National Women’s Soccer League.

The other two consortiums who made final offers for Chelsea this month are led respectively by the LA Dodgers part-owner Todd Boehly and the Boston Celtics co-owner Steve Pagliuc. (The Guardian)