San Diego Padres reportedly set for MLB-record $3.9bn sale to Chelsea co-owner

• Clearlake’s José E Feliciano, wife Kwanza Jones win bid

• Previous record for club was Cohen’s $2.42bn for Mets

• Everton owner Dan Friedkin said to be among finalists

The San Diego Padres are nearing a sale to a group led by José E Feliciano, co-founder of private equity firm Clearlake Capital and co-owner of Chelsea FC, and his wife, Kwanza Jones, for a Major League Baseball-record $3.9bn, according to multiple reports.

The https://www.wsj.com/sports/baseball/san-diego-padres-sale-b954a4d4">Wall Street Journal and https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7203881/2026/04/17/san-diego-padres-sale-jose-e-feliciano/">the Athletic reported on Friday that the group was closing in on a deal.

The sale requires approval by 75% of MLB’s 30 owners.

The reported price would surpass https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/oct/30/steve-cohen-new-york-mets-sale">the $2.42bn Steve Cohen paid for the New York Mets in 2020.