Roman Abramovich, the Russian-Jewish billionaire owner of the Chelsea soccer club, has immigrated to Israel, according to Hebrew-language reports.
Abramovich landed in Ben Gurion International earlier today, the reports say, and received an Israeli identity card, to which he is entitled under Israeli law as a Jewish person.
His British visa expired last month. His previous visa was granted before more rigorous regulations were instituted in April 2015.
Abramovich formally has residency in Jersey in the Channel Islands, a tax haven, but has never taken it up. The Sunday Times put his wealth at 9.3 billion pounds ($12.5 billion) on its Rich List this year. He has owned Chelsea since 2003.
He will be the richest person in Israel.
— with JTA
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