Tennis icon Serena Williams and Formula One World Champion Sir Lewis Hamilton are committing millions in the takeover bid for the English football club

The fight for Chelsea football clubs isn’t over yet, with a shock and unexpected bid from two of the world’s biggest sporting heroes.

23-time tennis major winner Serena Williams and seven-time Formula 1 champion Lewis Hamilton are joining a consortium vying for the ownership of Chelsea Football Club.

Reports suggest the bid is spearheaded by Sir Martin Broughton, a British businessman and deputy chairman of International Airlines Group.

The two sporting legends are jumping on board the bid as sports business investors and are set to throw millions behind the bid.

The bid is one of the final three left in the race, and if it wins the sporting icons will reap significant financial benefits.

It is unclear at this stage whether they would play an ambassador role in the club.

Russian sanctions

The club was put up for grabs after sanctions were placed on its former owner and Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich, amid the war in Ukraine.

The west imposed wide-sweeping sanctions on Russia’s elite, to put pressure on Vladimir Putin.

This included oligarchs living abroad in other countries, including Roman Ambramovich.

Abramovich agreed it was best for the club’s interest to step away, but continues to deny any friendly ties with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.