One of English football’s most iconic institutions, Liverpool FC, has announced a landmark minority stake sale to a global investor consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, marking one of the biggest deals in modern Premier League history.
The sale comes from current majority owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American sports conglomerate that acquired the 19-time English top-flight champions for just £300 million back in 2010. The buyer, 1892 Holdings, is a consortium led by British-Indian billionaire Amit Bhatia, with backing from Bezos and Meta co-founder Eduardo Saverin. Industry sources confirm the consortium will take ownership of roughly one-third of the club, valuing Liverpool at between £5 billion ($6.8 billion) and £6 billion in the transaction.
Bezos, currently the fourth-wealthiest person on the planet with an estimated net worth of $256 billion, has long been linked to bids for prominent North American sports franchises including the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but this deal marks his first direct investment in a professional sports team. He will not take a seat on Liverpool’s expanded board of directors; instead, Bryan Baum, founder of venture capital firm K5 Sports — the vehicle through which Bezos structured his investment — will join the board, alongside Elaine, Saverin’s wife. Bhatia, meanwhile, will step into the new role of vice-chairman at Anfield. Bhatia, son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, brings 18 years of top-flight football governance experience to the role, having served as co-owner of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers before stepping down earlier this year when his Liverpool investment plans became public.
In a statement released Friday, FSG president Mike Gordon emphasized alignment between the existing ownership and the new investor group. “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. 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,” Gordon said.
Bhatia echoed that sentiment, framing the investment as a privilege rather than a business transaction. “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG. 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,” Bhatia said.
Crucially, FSG has confirmed it will retain full majority ownership and complete operational and decision-making control over the club. The organization says the new capital injection will be used to advance Liverpool’s long-term growth goals on and off the pitch, by bringing in expertise across global business, technology, and investment sectors. “The consortium partners will work with FSG and the club’s leadership team to evaluate opportunities that enhance the club’s objectives on and off the pitch,” FSG said in a statement. This is not the first time FSG has sold down a minority stake: three years ago, the group sold a 3% stake to global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity.
The deal comes at a pivotal moment for Liverpool, as the club prepares to kick off its 2025-26 Premier League campaign away to Newcastle United on August 23. The side is coming off a hugely disappointing 2024-25 season that saw them finish fifth in the top flight, missing out on qualification for the UEFA Champions League. That underperformance led to the sacking of manager Arne Slot just 12 months after he won the Premier League title in his first season in charge, replacing legendary boss Jurgen Klopp. New manager Andoni Iraola is currently looking to strengthen his squad ahead of the closing of the summer transfer window, and the fresh capital from the stake sale is expected to give Iraola additional budget to pursue new targets. So far this transfer window, Liverpool has spent roughly £94 million on new signings Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz.