Bezos-led consortium acquires one-third stake in Liverpool FC in £1.5bn deal
The transaction values the Merseyside outfit at over £5 billion, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin joining an expanded board while day-to-day management remains unchanged.
A consortium led by 1892 Holdings, comprising Amazon owner Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, has reached a definitive agreement to purchase a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club from majority owners Fenway Sports Group (FSG). The transaction, valued at more than £1.5 billion, grants the new investors a share between 30 per cent and one-third of the club, which is now valued at over £5 billion.
Despite the significant shift in ownership structure, FSG will retain full operational control, day-to-day management, and the existing leadership hierarchy. John W Henry remains principal owner, Tom Werner serves as chairman, and Mike Gordon holds the role of president. The club’s broader strategy and principles remain unchanged under the new arrangement, with no alterations to the transfer budget or policy.
Amit Bhatia, a former Queens Park Rangers director and son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, will assume the position of vice-president. Bhatia, who has been FSG’s primary partner in negotiations, is regarded by the American group as a partner who respects the club’s history and identity. He will be joined on an expanded board by Bryan Baum, representing K5 Sports—a fund in which Bezos is the lead investor—and Elaine Saverin, wife of Eduardo Saverin.
Bezos will not become a director of Liverpool, but his investment vehicle will have representation on the board. The club continues to operate within financial sustainability rules, and transfer decisions remain the domain of the sporting side led by director of football Richard Hughes. Consequently, there will be no new funds allocated to manager Andoni Iraola for squad bolstering, with transfer activities continuing as per established protocols.
Mike Gordon, FSG president, stated that the consortium shared the group’s long-term philosophy and that their experience would complement the club’s foundation. FSG, which purchased the club in 2010 for £300 million when it was known as New England Sports Ventures, noted that while there was no financial need to sell, they were impressed by the calibre of the investors. The deal values the club at more than five times the original purchase price for the entire entity. Other minority holders include private equity firms RedBird Capital and Arctos Sports Partners, as well as Dynasty Equity, which injected £164 million in 2023.
