An investor group led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, is close to acquiring roughly a one-third stake in Liverpool Football Club, according to Sky Sports.
The consortium includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook. The club’s controlling stakeholder since 2010, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), is expected to announce the transaction this week or possibly next week, sources indicated.
The deal would make Bezos, Saverin, and Bhatia co-owners of Liverpool, one of the most successful clubs in English football history. Bezos’s fortune is estimated at £207 billion ($280 billion), while Saverin is worth over £23.7 billion ($32 billion), according to Forbes.
The investment would value Liverpool at approximately £4.4 billion ($6 billion), making it one of the most valuable deals in sports history. Sky Sports has requested comment from both Liverpool and FSG. Bezos’s involvement marks his first known investment in football, reflecting the growing perception of the sport as a distinct asset class for wealthy investors.
The 44-year-old Saverin was part of a consortium that attempted an unsuccessful takeover of Chelsea FC in 2022, triggered by Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. An insider noted that the deal’s stake might exceed 30 per cent, higher than previously reported.
This valuation would highlight the financial gains FSG has realised since acquiring Liverpool for £300 million during a financially troubled period. The entry of such a prominent consortium has sparked speculation about their potential pursuit of majority ownership of the multi-time Premier League champions.
Last month, an FSG spokesperson told Sky Sports, “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.” Both FSG and the consortium declined further comment on the timing of the deal.
The last change of stake at Liverpool occurred in 2023, when Dynasty Equity purchased a small interest, valuing the club at over £3.3 billion ($4.5 billion).