Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has officially entered into a definitive agreement to sell a significant minority stake in Liverpool FC to a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia. The deal, which involves the sale of approximately one-third of the club, values the Premier League side between £5bn and £6bn. The investment group includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
FSG, which acquired Liverpool for £300m in 2010 when the club faced potential bankruptcy, will retain majority ownership and full operational control. This transaction follows a previous minority stake sale to the sports investment firm Dynasty Equity. FSG president Mike Gordon stated that the partnership aligns with the club’s long-term growth strategy, bringing together expertise from global business, technology, and investment sectors.
Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, is set to join an expanded Liverpool board as vice-chairman, pending regulatory approval. Bhatia previously served as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before stepping down last month. Alongside him, Bryan Baum, founder of the venture capital firm K5 Sports, and Elaine Saverin will join the Anfield board. While this marks the first foray into sports ownership for the 62-year-old Bezos, he will not hold a seat on the board.
Despite the high-profile nature of the investors, Sport understands the transaction will not alter the club’s transfer window strategy, nor will it create a separate budget for player acquisitions. FSG leadership noted that they were not seeking capital due to financial necessity, but were instead drawn to the consortium’s extensive reach across Asian and Indian markets.
The financial scale of the deal highlights the dramatic appreciation of Liverpool’s value under FSG. Since 2010, the owners have facilitated approximately £218m in intra-group loans, bringing their total investment to roughly £518m. The proposed 30% stake sale is expected to net FSG over £1.5bn, representing a fivefold increase in value. This growth has been supported by significant infrastructure projects, including stadium redevelopment and a new training facility, alongside on-pitch success such as the 2019 Champions League title and Premier League triumphs in 2019-20 and 2024-25.
For Jeff Bezos, the world’s fourth-richest person with an estimated net worth of $256bn (£192bn), the investment represents a small fraction of his total assets. Bezos, who founded Amazon in a Seattle garage in 1994, has previously been linked to potential bids for NFL franchises like the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders. His recent business ventures include the AI company Prometheus, which invested £330m in a British startup last month.
Eduardo Saverin, whose net worth is estimated at £23.7bn, joins the consortium as a key partner. The involvement of such high-net-worth individuals has drawn mixed reactions from the fanbase. The Spirit of Shankly (SOS) supporters’ group has expressed caution, questioning the motivations behind the investment. An SOS spokesperson asked whether the consortium prioritizes the club’s long-term interests or views the stake as a “trophy” acquisition.
Concerns regarding the impact of the new investors have been voiced by some fans, particularly regarding the corporate culture associated with Amazon. “How Amazon have treated unions and workers isn’t particularly palatable,” noted one fan representative, who questioned whether the new partners would prioritize profit maximization over the club’s traditional values.
In contrast, Amit Bhatia expressed pride in the partnership, citing deep respect for FSG’s achievements at Anfield. He stated that the consortium believes in the club’s leadership and is committed to supporting its continued success. FSG maintains that the partners were selected specifically for their shared philosophy regarding long-term development.
The financial health of the club remains robust, with Liverpool recently becoming the top-earning Premier League club according to Deloitte. The 2024-25 financial year saw the club announce record revenues of £703m. Experts like Kieran Maguire suggest the deal is a strategic masterstroke for FSG, allowing them to capitalize on the club’s valuation while maintaining control.
Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO five years ago, remains one of the company’s largest shareholders. His recent filing to sell 15 million Amazon shares, valued at approximately £3.1bn, underscores the vast liquidity available to the consortium members. The deal is viewed as a significant milestone in the ongoing commercial evolution of the Premier League.
As the club moves forward, the focus remains on balancing commercial growth with the expectations of a global fanbase. While the investment provides a substantial capital injection and global networking opportunities, the club’s leadership continues to emphasize that the core operational structure remains unchanged under the stewardship of Fenway Sports Group.
In a statement, Fenway Sports Group (FSG) confirmed it had entered into a “definitive agreement” for the sale of a “strategic minority investment” to 1892 Holdings.
“Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together.”
When FSG bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010 the club were, according to CEO Billy Hogan, “literally on the brink of bankruptcy”.
That approach continues to attract interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world.
“To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege.
Sixteen years later, the proposed sale of 30% would mean FSG receive in excess of £1.5bn, five times what it was worth in 2010 when the group bought it from American businessmen Tom Hicks and George Gillett.
“It’s a great deal for FSG,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire said Sport.
“They generate more than £1bn from the deal and still keep control – this represents the best of both worlds.”
He also owns aerospace company Blue Origin, venture capital firm Nash Holdings and the Washington Post.
As if to underline the scale of his financial resources, only last week he filed to sell 15 million of his remaining Amazon shares with a market value of about £3.1bn – double the value of the consortium’s offer for a stake in Liverpool.
He was reportedly interested in the Seattle Seahawks, who were sold for £7.3bn, external recently.
The Washington Commanders, another NFL franchise said to be of interest, were sold for £4.6bn in 2023.
Buying a stake in Liverpool gives the 62-year-old a slice of one of the most iconic global sports brands for a small fraction of his fortune.
Liverpool fans consider the club to have a specific set of values, centred around working-class roots.
When FSG attempted to raise season-ticket prices last season, fans’ group Spirit of Shankly (SOS) launched a campaign called ‘Not a Pound in the Ground’.
It urged fans to buy food and drink from local businesses in the Anfield area rather than inside the stadium.
It worked, forcing the club to cut the size of their planned price rise.
“We would like to know what the buying consortium will get in return for their 30% stake,” an SOS spokesperson said Sport.
Gareth Roberts, Liverpool season-ticket holder and host of the Late Challenge LFC podcast, said Sport earlier this week he was worried by Amazon’s approach, given criticisms of the way the company has treated its workers.
A Trades Union Congress report, external on Amazon issued in 2020 highlighted “long, gruelling shifts with unreasonable productivity targets and unfair shift patterns” and “unacceptable working conditions”.
In 2024, more than 200 workers took part in two days of strike action at the Amazon site in Birmingham as part of a long-running dispute over pay and union rights.
Amazon said it regularly reviews its pay to ensure it offers competitive wages.
“Is he simply going to ramp up the name of Liverpool in order to make as much money as possible?”
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Consortium advances talks for stake in Liverpool Published 4 days ago
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