Fenway Sports Group has agreed to sell a 30% minority stake in Liverpool to a consortium named 1892 Holdings in a deal understood to be worth £1.65bn, according to Theguardian. The transaction values Liverpool at £5.5bn, and the group of investors includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
Fenway Sports Group Agrees to £1.65bn Stake Sale
The consortium is led and managed by Amit Bhatia, the former chairman of Queens Park Rangers and son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia initiated and led the talks with Fenway Sports Group on behalf of 1892 Holdings, a name referencing Liverpool’s founding year in Theguardian. Financial backing for the consortium comes from the Mittal Family Trust, the K5 Sports fund—with Jeff Bezos serving as the lead investor—and EE Capital, the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin.
Boardroom Changes and Governance Structure
Following the completion of the investment, Amit Bhatia will become the club’s new vice-chair on an expanded board. Elaine Saverin, wife of Eduardo, and Bryan Baum, co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global, will also join the Liverpool board.
Despite his high-profile financial backing, Jeff Bezos is considered a passive investor and will not receive a seat on the board. Fenway Sports Group will retain both majority ownership and operational control of Liverpool. The transaction does not compel Fenway Sports Group to sell additional shares in the future, nor does it obligate 1892 Holdings to increase its stake, though the agreement provides Bhatia’s consortium with options to purchase more of the club if the majority owners eventually decide to sell.
The leadership team of Fenway Sports Group—consisting of principal owner John W Henry, chair Tom Werner, and president Mike Gordon—spent nearly a year engaging with Bhatia. According to BBC Sport, Mike Gordon stated that the deal “supports Liverpool’s long-term growth ambitions by bringing together experts from across global business, technology, and investment.” Speaking on behalf of the consortium, Bhatia added: We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG.
Financial Context and Operational Impact
The agreement remains subject to regulatory approval, a process that could take up to 90 days. Fenway Sports Group has confirmed that the investment will have no impact on Liverpool’s transfer budget or strategy for the summer transfer window, and there will be no immediate changes to the day-to-day running of the club.
The transaction arrives on the heels of strong financial performance for the club. In January, Liverpool became the top-earning Premier League club for the first time according to financial firm Deloitte, and the club subsequently announced record revenues of £703m for the 2024-25 financial year.
Fenway Sports Group originally acquired Liverpool in 2010 for £300m. Previously, the majority owners sold a separate minority stake to the global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity. The current transaction with 1892 Holdings involves investors with substantial global assets: Jeff Bezos, Eduardo Saverin, and the Mittal family maintain multibillion-dollar estimated net worths, with Bezos recognized as one of the wealthiest individuals globally.
