BREAKING: An Amit Bhatia-led consortium featuring the founders of Facebook and Amazon has today completed a deal with Fenway Sports Group to take a 30% stake in Liverpool FC
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Tom Werner, Chairman of Liverpool, Michael Gordon, President of Fenway Sports Group and John Henry, Principle Owner of Liverpool and his wife Linda Pizzuti Henry pose for a photograph with the Premier League trophy, as Liverpool are crowned the Champions of the Premier League for the 2024/25 Season, following the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
FSG have sold a 30% stake in Liverpool to an Amit Bhatia-led consortium featuring the founders of Facebook and Amazon (Image: Carl Recine/Getty Images)
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An Amit Bhatia-led consortium, featuring the founders of Facebook and Amazon, has today completed an investment deal with Fenway Sports Group for a 30% stake in Liverpool FC believed to be worth around £1.4billion.
And while former Queens Park Rangers director Bhatia takes on the new title of vice-chairman at Liverpool, it's understood Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, the consortium's most high-profile name, will not have a seat on the reconfigured board.
Bezos is the third richest man on the planet with an estimated worth of £204billion and is the lead investor from the K5 Sports fund in the group that has taken around a third of the shares at Anfield.
However, Bryan Baum, the managing partner of K5 Global, will instead represent Bezos on Liverpool's new-look board of directors.
In what represents a major shakeup at the Reds, the wife of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, Elaine, will also join the expanded Liverpool board. The Saverin family are in the consortium as part of EE Capital.
The Harvard-educated Saverin is reportedly worth around £24billion and was previously involved in a failed takeover of Chelsea in 2022, when Roman Abramovich was forced to sell due to ties with Russia president Vladimir Putin following the invasion of Ukraine.
FSG have made little secret of their willingness to listen to offers when it came to external investment at Liverpool and Bhatia's group is viewed as the perfect blend to come on board as long-term partners, just two months before the Boston-based owners celebrate their 16th anniversary in charge.
The Reds' long-term approach to the transfer market remains unchanged, meaning budget-setting continues to be done by the club's football operations department.
There is no material alteration to the day-to-day running of the club, which is once more the job of FSG president Mike Gordon, who resumed duties following Michael Edwards's decision to step down as CEO of football earlier this summer.
The agreement sees FSG retain majority ownership and operational control of a club they bought for just £300m in October 2010 to end the spell of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, whose ruinous reign almost drove Liverpool to bankruptcy.
Speaking on behalf of 1892 Holdings, Mr Bhatia said: “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG.
"We have the utmost respect and admiration for FSG as owners and for everything they have achieved at Anfield.
"To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege. We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to supporting the club's continued success for years to come."
It's understood that Bhatia's 19-year stint with QPR appealed hugely to FSG.
While the focus has understandably been centred on Bezos and his enormous wealth since the news became public last month, the ECHO understands it is the 46-year-old Bhatia with whom Liverpool's American owners have been dealing with directly during negotiations in recent weeks.
Bhatia is the son-in-law of Lakshmi Mittal, the executive of ArcelorMittal - the world's largest steel and mining company - and one of the planet's wealthiest people with a net worth of £24billion.
FSG feel Mr Bhatia and the Mittal Family Trusts can open the club up to new markets across India and Asia.
Boston-based sources have also rubbished suggestions that the deal signals the beginning of the end for FSG as Liverpool owners, insisting the minority investment simply allows them more opportunities to grow the club further as a powerhouse of European and world football.
The Fenway group, who were then known as New England Sports Ventures, purchased the Reds for £300m in October 2010.
Nearly 16 years later, the 20-time Premier League champions are valued at £4.57billion by the influential American finance publication Forbes.
Earlier this year, the club posted revenues north of £700m for the first time in its history with a post-tax profit of £8m in its most recent financial results, in February.
In 2024, FSG began exploring options to begin a multi-club ownership model but recently shelved those plans, culminating in the exit of Edwards, Liverpool's former sporting director who was appointed as the ownership group's CEO of football two years ago.