Liverpool Sells Stake to…

Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has announced the sale of a minority stake in the club to a consortium that includes Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon.

The group, named 1892 Holdings in honor of the year Liverpool was established, will be chaired by British Indian entrepreneur Amit Bhatia, a former co-owner of Queens Park Rangers, who will assume the role of new vice chairman.

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ESPN sources indicate that the stake is approximately 30%, valuing Liverpool at around £5.5 billion ($7.45 billion).

The consortium also includes the K5 Sports fund, spearheaded by Bezos, as well as EE Capital, which is the family office of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine. Saverin is expected to take a seat on Liverpool’s board. This investment marks Bezos’ initial foray into sports, despite years of speculation surrounding his interest in several NFL teams.

Ranked as the world’s third-richest individual, with a net worth of approximately $271.4 billion (£200.3 billion) according to Forbes, Bezos is not anticipated to join Liverpool’s board directly; instead, K5 Global’s managing partner Bryan Baum will represent him.

Saverin, valued at around $36 billion according to Forbes, is set to play a significant role following this investment.

Bhatia, who is married to the daughter of prominent Indian businessman Lakshmi Mittal, recently resigned after an 18-year tenure as co-owner of Queens Park Rangers.

“We are incredibly proud to invest in Liverpool Football Club alongside FSG,” Bhatia stated on behalf of 1892 Holdings. “We hold great respect for FSG’s accomplishments at Anfield. Being welcomed as a partner in such a prestigious club is a tremendous honor.

“Our investment stems from a deep belief in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to contributing to the club’s ongoing success for many years.”

FSG, which acquired Liverpool for £300 million in 2010 and also owns the Boston Red Sox, maintains majority ownership and operational control of the club, with no immediate changes expected in daily operations.

“Liverpool has always been built on long-term thinking and making decisions in the club’s best interests,” FSG president Mike Gordon commented. “This philosophy continues to attract respected investors and business leaders globally.

“Through this opportunity, it was evident that Amit and the consortium align with our long-term vision and value what makes Liverpool unique. Their expertise will enhance the solid foundation we’ve built, and we look forward to our collaboration.”

This marks the first minority investment in Liverpool since Dynasty Equity acquired a 3% stake in the club for approximately $200 million in September 2023.

Under FSG and principal owner John Henry, Liverpool broke a 30-year title drought, winning the English championship in 2020 and adding another Premier League title last year, bringing their total to 20 top-flight league championships, matching Manchester United.

The club also achieved its sixth European championship title in 2019, a record for English teams.

The Premier League, one of the most prominent competitions in sports, features teams that are predominantly owned by wealthy Gulf states or private equity firms.

Contributions from the Associated Press were included in this report.