Liverpool owners near sale of 30% stake to consortium including Jeff Bezos
Major Investment for Liverpool
A consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly nearing a deal to acquire approximately a 30% stake in Liverpool Football Club. This development follows months of discussions with Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the club’s current owners. The investment group is led by Amit Bhatia, who is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. Eduardo Saverin, a co-founder of Facebook, is also part of this consortium.
The deal is understood to be effectively agreed upon, though its full completion could take up to a month. Reports suggest the transaction could be valued in the region of £1.35bn. This investment could value the club at £4.4bn, making it one of the largest deals in the sport’s history.
Jeff Bezos, with an estimated personal fortune of around $257bn (£190bn) according to Forbes, is considered the fourth-richest person globally. This marks his initial foray into football investment, although he has previously explored opportunities with NFL franchises. Eduardo Saverin is reportedly worth $32bn. Deloitte has provided advisory services for this equity deal.
FSG’s Tenure and Recent Changes at Anfield
Fenway Sports Group acquired Liverpool in 2010 for £300m. During their ownership, the club has secured two Premier League titles. In 2023, FSG sold a 3% stake in the club to the US private equity firm Dynasty Equity. This previous transaction valued the club at more than £3.3bn.
The current year has seen several significant changes at Anfield. Andoni Iraola took over as head coach, succeeding Arne Slot. Additionally, Mohamed Salah departed on a free transfer to Trabzonspor, and Michael Edwards stepped down from his role as chief executive officer at FSG.
Liverpool achieved a notable financial milestone in January, becoming the top-earning Premier League club for the first time, according to analysis from a financial firm. The club also announced record revenues of £703m for the 2024-25 financial year.
The Investors and Their Backgrounds
Amit Bhatia, the leader of the consortium, has a background in investment banking. He manages AyBe Capital, a multi-asset investment firm with interests in various sectors including technology, media, property, real estate, consumer retail, and health. He was previously a shareholder and director at Queens Park Rangers for 18 years, relinquishing his stake last month.
Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon in 1994, transitioned from chief executive to executive chairman five years ago. Under his leadership, Amazon expanded into entertainment, acquiring numerous sports rights for its streaming services. Amazon held live UK rights for 20 Premier League games each season for six seasons until the end of last year and broadcasts the Champions League in several European countries, as well as some NFL games in the US.
Eduardo Saverin, at 44 years old, was part of a consortium that made an unsuccessful bid for Chelsea FC during the 2022 auction. Bezos also owns The Washington Post and aerospace company Blue Origin. He was linked with a takeover of the NFL franchise the Washington Commanders in 2023 and explored the possibility of acquiring the Seattle Seahawks, though he ultimately did not submit an offer for either.
FSG was approached for comment regarding the latest developments, but they had no further statement. The consortium led by Mr. Bhatia also declined to comment.
Source: theguardian.com
