Potential investment in Liverpool
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owner of Liverpool, has entered into discussions regarding the sale of a significant stake in the club. A consortium led by Amit Bhatia, former co-owner of Queens Park Rangers, has opened talks with FSG. Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, stepped down from his role at QPR after 18 years.
The provisional offer for approximately 30% of the club is believed to be £1.35bn. This offer would value Liverpool at around £4.5bn. Discussions reportedly began three months ago, though FSG maintains that these talks are still in a preliminary stage.
Bezos linked to consortium
Reports indicate that Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been approached about joining the consortium. Bezos, who is the fourth-richest person globally, has an estimated net worth of $256.9bn (£192.1bn) according to Forbes. He stepped down as Amazon‘s chief executive in 2021 to become executive chairman and owns 8% of the company.
While Bezos has not yet invested in sports, he has previously explored opportunities. In 2023, he was linked with a takeover of the NFL franchise Washington Commanders and also considered buying the Seattle Seahawks. Sources close to Bhatia have not commented on whether Bezos was specifically approached, stating only that discussions have occurred with several potential investors.
FSG’s financial strategy and club valuation
FSG acquired Liverpool for £300m in 2010, and the current reported offer of £1.35bn for 30% would represent a substantial profit. The principal owner, John W Henry, is a venture capitalist, and FSG’s continued competitiveness among elite clubs necessitates ongoing investment. The current talks are not viewed as an exit strategy by Liverpool‘s owners but rather an opportunity to attract considerable funds while retaining overall control.
FSG previously sold 10% of the company to RedBird Capital Partners for £543m in March 2021. In 2023, FSG sold a reported 4% stake in Liverpool to Dynasty Equity, an American sports investment company, for £164m, with those funds largely used to address pandemic-related debts.
The club achieved record revenues exceeding £700m and was the highest-placed Premier League club in the Deloitte Football Money League. This financial strength suggests that the current pursuit of new investment is not due to financial distress but rather a strategic move to inject fresh capital.
The club’s value has seen significant growth since FSG’s acquisition. For comparison, Manchester United was valued at slightly less when Sir Jim Ratcliffe purchased an initial 25% stake in February 2024, which later increased to 27.7%. Forbes’ latest valuation of Manchester United was $7.2bn (£5.38bn). Real Madrid was valued at $9.5bn, with Barcelona at $7.5bn.
Impact on club operations and future outlook
The proposed offer, even without Bezos’s involvement, would considerably enhance Liverpool‘s capital as the club begins a new era under Andoni Iraola. The extent of influence Bhatia and other potential investors would have over Liverpool‘s football operations remains to be determined. With Mike Gordon, FSG president, returning to a more prominent role after Michael Edwards‘s departure as FSG’s chief executive of football, it appears unlikely that Liverpool‘s owners would grant a minority shareholder full control over the football side.
Liverpool‘s transfer plans for the current summer are not expected to be affected, given that talks are still at a preliminary stage. FSG had previously paused plans to acquire a second club, a decision that contributed to Edwards’s recent departure. Last summer, the club funded a transfer outlay of nearly £450m, which included £125m for Alexander Isak.
To maintain and improve these investment levels, especially after achieving a modest profit of £8m when winning the Premier League title under Arne Slot in the 2024-25 season, injecting fresh capital into the club is considered necessary. Talks are ongoing until a deal is finalised or collapses.
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Source: theguardian.com
Arjun Sharma
Sports Reporter