Liverpool FC's owners have agreed to sell around a third of the club to the 1892 Holdings consortium, which includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, with the group holding an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year.
Key facts
- The consortium is buying around a third of Liverpool FC.
- The group is led by former QPR chairman Amit Bhatia and includes Jeff Bezos's K5 Sports Fund.
- The deal values the club at more than £5bn, according to the BBC.
- The consortium has an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year.
Liverpool Football Club’s owners have agreed to sell a minority stake in the club to a consortium that includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, according to multiple outlets reporting on the deal.
The stake amounts to around a third of the club, Sky Sports and the BBC reported. The BBC said the transaction values Liverpool at more than £5bn.
The buying group is known as the 1892 Holdings consortium and is led by former Queens Park Rangers chairman Amit Bhatia, according to Al Jazeera. The consortium also includes Bezos’s K5 Sports Fund.
Beyond the initial minority purchase, the deal gives the consortium a route to full control. CNBC reported that the group has an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year.
Sky Sports described the sellers as Liverpool’s current owners, FSG, who have agreed to part with the minority holding to the Bezos-backed group.
The reports focus on the structure and valuation of the agreement. The sources cited here do not provide further detail on the price paid for the stake or a timetable for any move to majority ownership beyond the one-year option window.
Why it matters
Liverpool is one of the most valuable clubs in world football, so a change in its ownership structure draws wide attention from fans and investors alike. The involvement of a figure as prominent as Jeff Bezos, combined with an option to take full control, signals a potential shift in who ultimately runs one of England's biggest teams.
Frequently asked questions
How much of Liverpool is being sold?
According to the BBC and Sky Sports, the consortium is buying around a third of the club.
Who is in the consortium buying the stake?
Al Jazeera reports the group is the 1892 Holdings consortium, led by former QPR chairman Amit Bhatia and including Jeff Bezos's K5 Sports Fund.
Will the group take full control of Liverpool?
CNBC reports the consortium has an option to become the majority shareholder within the next year, but full control is not guaranteed at this stage.