Chelsea trio team up to open their 'own Boujis'

11 April 2012
The Weekender

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They're used to getting stuck in on the pitch, but now a trio of Chelsea stars are set to invest their millions in a London nightclub.

Didier Drogba, Claude Makelele and Michael Ballack are searching for a venue for the nightspot in the South Kensington area, close to their Stamford Bridge ground, in the hope they can open a club to rival such footballer hangouts as Boujis, Embassy and Chinawhite.

From left, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele

From left, Michael Ballack, Didier Drogba and Claude Makelele

We hear they have been talking to a number of property agents in what is the first step to find the perfect spot.

They will then each put hundreds of thousands of pounds into the project, before applying for a licence to open.

"The boys see that having a club in that area will make them a lot of money," says our source.

"They are all very switched on when it comes to their finances and are able to see that a nightclub with their names attached to it will make an absolute killing.

"But they are surprised how difficult it is to find the right place. They are still searching high and low."

It is likely that the place will be around the corner from South Ken's Boujis — a favourite of princes William and Harry, as well as Chelsea's Frank Lampard and Arsenal's Freddie Ljungberg.

Our source adds: "They are aware that Boujis is an established place and will take a lot of beating. That is the main reason why they are being so particular about making sure they make all of the right decisions."

Striker Drogba and midfielders Makelele and Ballack are not the first of the Premiership champions to invest money in the south-west London social scene. We told you earlier this year how hunky midfielder Lampard is teaming up with top chef Marco Pierre White to open another Frankies restaurant close to his Chelsea home.

The Blues take on Liverpool tonight at Anfield in the Champions League semi-final. They have a 1-0 advantage but the red army will undoubtedly come out fighting.

Win or lose, we won't be seeing Lampard and the boys hitting the tiles in the capital like they did last week, when he went to The Collection in Chelsea after their victory against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

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