Fenway Sports Group were paid more than £2 billion by a consortium of investors, more than originally reported, after selling shares of Liverpool Football Club.
The sale of a significant minority stake in Liverpool was announced last week, with 1892 Holdings initially claimed to have acquired around 30 percent of the club for £1.65 billion.
The Athletic reported on Tuesday that the consortium, led by former QPR chairman Amit Bhatia and backed by Jeff Bezos, in fact owns 38 percent of the club.
As per the Guardian‘s Andy Hunter and The Times‘ Paul Joyce, this means 1892 Holdings paid over £2 billion to become a shareholder.
Hunter explains that “the increased stake, first reported by the Athletic, still values Liverpool at about £5.5bn.”
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 27, 2025: Liverpool's owner John W. Henry and wife Linda Pizzuti during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 5-1 and became League Champions. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Sunday, April 27, 2025: Liverpool's owner John W. Henry and wife Linda Pizzuti during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield. Liverpool won 5-1 and became League Champions. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The consortium also has the option to up their stake to a majority shareholding within the next 12 months, but FSG “has said it is not committed to that agreement.”
However, the fact that a larger share was sold than originally reported does suggest a change in majority shareholders is in Liverpool’s future.
As Joyce notes: “The size of the shareholding is greater than the club, and sources close to Bhatia’s 1892 Holdings originally indicated, which has served to raise questions as to why FSG was not more transparent.”
Jeff Bezos (Image: Abaca Press/Alamy Live News)
Jeff Bezos (Image: Abaca Press/Alamy Live News)
READ NEXT
Premier League 2026/27: 7 new things to watch for and 5 rule changes
It is no wonder, then, that Liverpool supporter group Spirit of Shankly has already contacted the independent football regulator to ensure due diligence on a deal that remains subject to approval.
While FSG will remain in charge of the club’s operations, Bhatia will become the club’s new vice-chairman. Elaine Saverin (Eduardo’s wife), meanwhile, has joined an expanded board along with Bryan Baum, who represents Bezos.
Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, had been in talks with FSG for more than a year before an agreement was formally reached.
Iraola, Arteta, Michael Oliver collage
Iraola, Arteta, Michael Oliver collage
LFC (1)
LFC (1)