Jeff Bezos Joining Liverpool Ownership with £1.35bn Deal for 30% Stake

Liverpool are on the brink of welcoming one of the world’s richest men into their ownership structure, with Jeff Bezos part of a heavyweight consortium closing in on a 30 per cent stake in the club.

After months of negotiations with Fenway Sports Group (FSG), a group of investors led by Amit Bhatia is nearing completion of a deal worth around £1.35 billion (€1.58 billion) for just under a third of the Premier League side. The agreement is effectively in place and is expected to be finalised within the next month.

Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, is no stranger to English football. He previously held a stake in Queens Park Rangers and served as vice-chairman there, experience that now underpins his move into one of the global giants of the game. Alongside him sits another tech titan: Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, whose personal wealth is estimated at $32 billion (€28 billion).

Then comes Bezos. The Amazon founder, with a fortune of around $257 billion (€223 billion) according to Forbes, would instantly become the most eye-catching name in Liverpool’s ownership picture. This marks his first foray into football investment, though he has previously explored moves for NFL franchises in the United States. As part of this deal, the 62-year-old will receive equity in the club, with Deloitte understood to be advising on the transaction.

Bezos now serves as executive chair of Amazon, having stepped down as chief executive five years ago, but his imprint on the company’s pivot into sport and entertainment is unmistakable. Under his leadership, Amazon moved aggressively into live sports rights, using its streaming platform to challenge traditional broadcasters.

The company held live UK rights to 20 Premier League matches per season for six seasons until the end of last year, and currently shows the Champions League in several European markets as well as NFL coverage in the US. A personal stake in Liverpool would deepen the links between one of football’s most storied clubs and one of the world’s most powerful media and technology empires.

For FSG, this is another step in a gradual reshaping of Liverpool’s financial structure. The American group bought the club in 2010, rescuing it from a period of turmoil and overseeing a modern era that has included two Premier League titles. In 2023, FSG sold a 3 per cent share to US private equity firm Dynasty Equity, a move widely seen as a way of raising capital without ceding control.

The incoming investment now goes far further, both in size and profile. While FSG will remain majority owners, a 30 per cent stake at this valuation underlines Liverpool’s status as one of the most valuable properties in world sport and gives the group significant fresh firepower at a time of transition.

That transition has been stark this summer. Andoni Iraola has arrived at Anfield to replace Arne Slot as head coach, a major change on the touchline for a squad already accustomed to upheaval in recent years. Mohamed Salah, the defining forward of Liverpool’s recent success, has departed on a free transfer and joined Trabzonspor, drawing a line under a glittering spell on Merseyside.

Off the pitch, there has been movement at the very top of the FSG hierarchy, with Michael Edwards leaving his role as chief executive officer at the ownership group. His exit, coupled with the looming arrival of a new tier of investors, leaves Liverpool entering a fresh chapter both in the boardroom and on the pitch.

FSG has been approached for comment on the proposed deal. For now, Anfield waits to see how the arrival of Bezos and his fellow investors will shape the next act of a club that has rarely stood still for long.