Fenway Sports Group has agreed to sell approximately a third of Liverpool to a consortium called 1892 Holdings, which includes billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos.
The deal is said to value the club at between £5bn and £6bn, representing a remarkable return on FSG’s original £300m purchase price back in 2010.
The consortium is led by British-Indian millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia, who will become Liverpool’s vice-chairman and join an expanded board pending regulatory approval.
Bhatia is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and had previously served as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake last month.
Also involved in the consortium is Eduardo Saverin, the billionaire Facebook co-founder, whose wife Elaine will join Liverpool’s board as part of the agreement.
Bezos, described as the fourth-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $256bn, is investing through venture capital firm K5 Sports, whose founder Bryan Baum will also take a seat on the Anfield board.
This marks the 62-year-old’s first move into sports ownership, though Bezos himself will not take a position on Liverpool’s board.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire described the arrangement as highly favourable for FSG, telling BBC Sport: “They generate more than £1bn from the deal and still keep control – this represents the best of both worlds.”
FSG president Mike Gordon said: “Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind.”
Gordon added: “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.”
Bhatia said the consortium was “proud to be investing in Liverpool”, adding: “To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege.”
BBC Sport has been told the transaction will have no impact on the club’s approach to the transfer window, with no new or separate transfer budget associated with the investment.
The agreement also includes an option for the consortium to increase its investment in the future, potentially positioning the group to become majority shareholders should FSG choose to sell.
FSG was not seeking investment out of financial need but was attracted by the consortium’s reach across global business, technology, and investment, particularly across India and Asia.
Liverpool became the top-earning Premier League club for the first time in January, according to analysis from financial firm Deloitte, and announced record revenues of £703m for the 2024-25 financial year the following month.
Fans’ group Spirit of Shankly has raised concerns about the deal, asking in a statement: “Does this potential consortium have the best interests of the club at the forefront or is it a ‘trophy’ buy?”
The group added on Friday: “Today’s announcement will have raised many questions for supporters. We will be seeking engagement to understand better what this sale and consequent changes will mean for the future of LFC and its fans.”
Liverpool season-ticket holder and podcast host Gareth Roberts voiced concerns specifically about Bezos’s association with Amazon, saying: “How Amazon have treated unions and workers isn’t particularly palatable. Is he simply going to ramp up the name of Liverpool in order to make as much money as possible?”
FSG says the deal “supports Liverpool’s long-term growth ambitions by bringing together experts from across global business, technology, and investment”, and confirmed it “continues to retain majority ownership and operational control of Liverpool.”
