Talks regarding the sale of a significant minority stake in Liverpool Football Club have reached an advanced stage, with parent company Fenway Sports Group (FSG) in active negotiations with a high-profile investment consortium. According to a report published by the British newspaper The Times, the proposed transaction could see nearly one-third of the English Premier League club transferred to new investors.
The consortium is headed by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. Joining Bhatia in the bid are Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Discussions between FSG and the consortium have been ongoing for approximately three months. A source informed The Times that while negotiations remain active, discussions are progressing in a distinctly positive direction.
Sky News reports that an official announcement regarding the deal could arrive as early as next week. The proposed valuation places Liverpool’s total worth at approximately £4.5 billion, a figure that would cement the Merseyside club’s status among the most valuable sports institutions globally. A completed deal would introduce some of the world’s wealthiest individuals to Anfield’s boardroom.
The consortium’s consortium leader, Amit Bhatia, recently stepped down from the board of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) last month after an eighteen-year association, transferring his shares to Ruben Gnanalingam. Meanwhile, Forbes estimates Jeff Bezos’s net worth at well over $280 billion, while Eduardo Saverin’s wealth exceeds $32 billion. Saverin previously participated in a similar consortium bid to purchase Chelsea Football Club following the onset of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Despite the vast financial resources of the incoming investors, Liverpool will not have carte blanche in the transfer market. Premier League regulations regarding Squad Cost Ratios mandate that clubs cap their football-related spending at 85 per cent of total revenue alongside net player trading results. Nevertheless, fresh capital is expected to expand the club’s commercial avenues, accelerate technological advancements, and fund infrastructure projects.
FSG originally acquired Liverpool in October 2010 from previous owners Tom Hicks and George Gillett for £300 million. Under FSG’s stewardship, the 20-time English champions ended a 30-year domestic league title drought by winning two Premier League trophies and securing a UEFA Champions League title. The group also funded major redevelopments of Anfield Stadium and constructed a state-of-the-art training centre at Kirkby.
The deal has sparked speculation over whether FSG plans a gradual exit from Anfield. The Times notes that the short-term goal remains fortifying the club’s commercial foundation, mirroring FSG’s sale of a minority stake to Dynasty Equity in 2023 for between £80 million and £160 million. At that time, FSG President and Liverpool director Mike Gordon reiterated that the group’s long-term commitment to the club remained absolute.
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