Potential Investment in Liverpool
A consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly nearing an agreement to acquire a significant stake in Liverpool Football Club. The deal could see the consortium take a stake of over 30 per cent in the club. This investment would introduce some of the world’s wealthiest individuals as co-owners of one of English football’s most successful teams.
The consortium is led by Amit Bhatia, who is the son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia previously held a shareholder position in Championship club Queens Park Rangers. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the controlling shareholder of the Anfield club since 2010, is reportedly preparing an announcement regarding this transaction, possibly as early as this week.
Jeff Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at over £207bn, would participate in this investor group alongside Eduardo Saverin, a co-founder of Facebook. Saverin, who is 44 years old, has an estimated net worth of over £23.7bn. He was previously part of a consortium that made an unsuccessful bid for Chelsea FC during an auction in 2022.
Club Valuation and Previous Investments
The proposed investment in Liverpool is expected to value the club at approximately £4.4bn. This valuation would position it as one of the most substantial deals in sports history. FSG acquired Liverpool for £300m in 2010 when the club was in a challenging financial state. If completed, the deal would highlight the financial success FSG has achieved during its 16-year ownership.
The interest from such a powerful consortium suggests that its members might eventually seek outright control of the Reds. FSG confirmed interest from Amit Bhatia’s consortium, stating that it had expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment. FSG declined to comment further on the timing of a potential deal, as did a spokesperson for the consortium led by Mr. Bhatia.
The last change in Liverpool’s ownership structure occurred in 2023 when Dynasty Equity purchased a small stake, valuing the club at over £3.3bn. FSG itself includes investors such as RedBird Capital Partners, LeBron James, and Maverick Carter.
Key Figures in the Consortium
Amit Bhatia is a 46-year-old British Indian entrepreneur with a background in investment banking. He currently manages AyBe Capital, a multi-asset investment firm that invests across various sectors, including technology, media, property, real estate, consumer retail, and health. Bhatia is married to Vanisha Mittal Bhatia, daughter of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. The Mittal family’s sports portfolio also includes the Rajasthan Royals Indian Premier League franchise.
Jeff Bezos is widely recognized as the founder of the e-commerce giant Amazon, which he established in 1994. His other investments include the aerospace company Blue Origin and Nash Holdings, a venture capital firm that owns The Washington Post. Although Bezos has not previously been associated with football deals, his potential involvement with the Liverpool FC consortium underscores the increasing view of sports as a valuable asset class for wealthy investors.
Earlier this month, Fenway Sports Group’s chief of football, Michael Edwards, departed the organization. FSG had previously explored building a multi-club empire, similar to Manchester United’s Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Manchester City’s City Football Group, but abandoned those plans earlier this year. An announcement regarding the deal is anticipated in the coming days, though it could extend into next week.
Source: skysports.com