Liverpool's ownership structure has changed in the past week, with a new investment consortium taking up a large minority stake in the club from Fenway Sports Group
American businessman Jeff Bezos
American businessman Jeff Bezos (Image: (Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu via Getty Images))
1982 Holdings appears to have bought a larger stake in Liverpool than first reported, following confirmation that new investment had made its way to Anfield.
The consortium was made up of investors, with Amit Bhatia leading the group towards taking the share in the Reds for the foreseeable future.
The British entrepreneur will take a place on the Liverpool board as vice-chairman, following 18 years of experience as a co-owner at Championship outfit Queens Park Rangers. That venture to Liverpool has included Amazon founder and fourth-richest man in the world Jeff Bezos, who has taken his first foray into sports investment after years of rumors surrounding a move into the space.
They are also joined by Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, rounding off the famous faces within the investment that has taken an interest in the club.
It's a strategic stake that was first reported as being worth roughly one-third of the majority stake owned by Fenway Sports Group (FSG), with the deal believed to be worth just short of $2 billion - giving the overall club a valuation of $6 billion.
However, The Athletic reports that the true figure is actually more than that, reported to be around 38 per cent of FSG's overall stake. That is a move considerably closer to the magic 51 per cent mark, which would put the group down as the majority stakeholder and as the overall owners of the club.
The overall deal, as a result, is believed to be around $2 billion, which only slightly changes the overall make-up of the investment into the Reds.
Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos reacts as he speaks with Stellantis' Chairman John Elkann on stage during the Italian Tech Week 2025, at OGR Officine Grandi Riparazioni, in Turin
Jeff Bezos's investment in Liverpool could result in a full takeover in the coming months(Image: (Photo by MARCO BERTORELLO/AFP via Getty Images))
There is a possibility of a full takeover in the future, as reports have suggested that 1982 Holdings has a mechanism that can activate the purchase of more shares to take a majority stake.
That is only an option, however, and it isn't mandatory for the new investment group to take on that responsibility, while it's believed that it is valid for the first year with the Reds.
It marks yet more change for Liverpool, of which there has been plenty both on and off the pitch in the past year or so, with even more expected.
The introduction of new members to the boardroom is just one part of that, with there being a change in head coach over the summer, with the arrival of Andoni Iraola.
There has been some significant change in the playing roster over the past year, while there are further switches expected, with Richard Hughes set to vacate his role as sporting director.
Whether that instability off the pitch impacts those on the pitch remains to be seen, but Liverpool is once again a club in flux.