Liverpool's American owners Fenway Sports Group have agreed to sell close to a third of the Premier League club to a consortium featuring Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, in a deal reported to value the club at around £5.5 billion.
FSG confirmed on Friday it had entered a "definitive agreement" to sell a minority stake to 1892 Holdings, a group named after Liverpool's founding year and led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia. The transaction is valued at roughly £1.65 billion, according to reports, though figures across estimates ranged between £1.5 billion and £1.65 billion depending on the source.
Bhatia, son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, will become Liverpool's vice-chairman and join an expanded club board once regulatory approval is granted, a process that could take up to 90 days. He had spent nearly 19 years as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers before stepping away from that role last month, and it was Bhatia who initiated and led the talks with FSG on behalf of the consortium.
The group's financial backing comes from the Mittal Family Trust, K5 Sports Fund — in which Bezos is the lead investor — and EE Capital, the family office belonging to Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine. Bezos, the world's fourth-richest person with an estimated net worth in the region of $256 billion, will not sit on Liverpool's board and is considered a passive investor. However, K5's Bryan Baum and Elaine Saverin will both take up board positions. Eduardo Saverin, whose fortune is estimated at over $30 billion, had previously been part of an unsuccessful bid to buy Chelsea in 2022.import
Crucially, FSG will retain majority ownership and full operational control of the club. Principal owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon remain in place, and there is no change planned to Liverpool's leadership structure or footballing strategy. The club has stressed the investment will not affect this summer's transfer budget, with sporting decisions continuing to rest with director of football Richard Hughes under new head coach Andoni Iraola.
Mike Gordon said the move reflected FSG's long-term approach to running the club. "Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club's long-term interests in mind. That approach continues to attract interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world," he said. "As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special. Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together."
Bhatia described the deal as a matter of pride. "We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG," he said. "We have the utmost respect and admiration for FSG as owners and for everything they have achieved at Anfield. To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege. We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to supporting the club's continued success for years to come."
FSG bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010 when the club was, in the words of chief executive Billy Hogan, close to bankruptcy. Since then it has won a first league title in three decades, added a further Premier League crown last season, and lifted a sixth European Cup in 2019, while also investing heavily in infrastructure including a new training complex and stadium redevelopment. The proposed sale would net FSG more than £1.5 billion, five times the amount they originally paid.
Not everyone has welcomed the news. Supporters' group Spirit of Shankly said the announcement "raised many questions" and confirmed it had contacted football's Independent Regulator for clarity on what the deal means for fans. Some supporters have also voiced discomfort over Amazon's labour practices, pointing to past disputes involving pay and union recognition at the company's UK sites.
Former Liverpool managing director Christian Purslow suggested the club's substantial spending in last summer's transfer window — including the signings of Alexander Isak, Florian Wirtz and others for a combined outlay near £450 million — may have factored into FSG's decision to bring in deep-pocketed partners capable of supporting the club financially going forward.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport, The Guardian, The Independent and The Standard.