A group of investors that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has agreed to purchase close to 40% of Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), marking a significant shift in the ownership structure of the Premier League club.
Initial reports suggested that the investment group, known as 1892 Holdings, had acquired roughly a third of the club. However, it later emerged that the actual figure is closer to 38%. The consortium also holds an option to take a controlling stake in Liverpool within the next 12 months, although this arrangement does not amount to a binding commitment at this stage.
FSG confirmed the transaction in a statement issued on Friday, describing it as a "definitive agreement" for the sale of a "strategic minority investment" to 1892 Holdings. The name of the investment vehicle is a nod to the year Liverpool Football Club was founded.
The consortium is spearheaded by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia, who will take on the role of vice-chairman at Liverpool and join an expanded board of directors, subject to the necessary regulatory approvals. Alongside Bezos, the group also features Facebook co-founder and billionaire investor Eduardo Saverin.
Bhatia brings considerable experience in football ownership to his new role. He is the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and spent 18 years as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers before stepping away from his position at the west London club just last month.
According to reports, the deal values Liverpool somewhere in the region of £5 billion to £6 billion, underlining the scale of the investment being made in one of English football's most successful and storied institutions.
FSG, led by John W. Henry, has overseen Liverpool since acquiring the club in 2010, guiding it through a period that included Premier League and Champions League triumphs. The introduction of new investors with the profile of Bezos and Saverin signals a potential new chapter for the club, though FSG's characterization of the sale as a minority investment suggests the American ownership group intends to retain significant influence over the club's operations for now.
The involvement of high-profile figures from the technology and finance sectors reflects a broader trend of wealthy individuals and investment groups looking to acquire stakes in top European football clubs, drawn by both the commercial potential and global prestige associated with the sport's biggest institutions.
Bhatia's appointment as vice-chairman suggests he will play an active role in shaping the club's strategic direction going forward, leveraging his prior experience in football administration from his time at Queens Park Rangers. His departure from QPR last month now appears to have been a precursor to this new venture at Anfield.
While the immediate details of what the minority stake will mean for day-to-day operations at Liverpool remain to be fully clarified, the option for the consortium to pursue a controlling interest within the coming year leaves open the possibility of a more dramatic ownership change in the near future.
Supporters and football finance analysts alike will now be watching closely to see how this new partnership between FSG and 1892 Holdings develops, and what it might mean for the long-term trajectory of one of England's most decorated football clubs.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.