Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly close to joining an investment consortium seeking to acquire a significant minority stake in Liverpool Football Club.
The consortium, led by British businessman Amit Bhatia, is understood to be negotiating a stake of around one-third of the Premier League club, potentially valuing the investment at more than £1.4 billion.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s controlling owner, confirmed in July that it had received interest from an investment group led by Bhatia for a strategic minority investment in the club.
Sky Sports reports that negotiations are now nearing completion, with an official announcement potentially expected as early as this week, although the deal could still be delayed until next week.
Bezos, whose fortune is estimated at about $257 billion, is reportedly part of the consortium alongside Eduardo Saverin, one of Facebook’s co-founders. Saverin’s wealth is estimated at approximately $33.1 billion.
If completed, the investment would represent Bezos’ first equity stake in a major European football club and would bring several of the world’s wealthiest individuals into Liverpool’s ownership structure.
Despite the new investment, FSG is expected to remain Liverpool’s controlling shareholder and continue overseeing the club’s operations.
The deal could provide Liverpool with significant additional financial strength, although questions remain over how the new investors might influence the club’s future direction, spending and identity.
The consortium is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of billionaire Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia, 46, previously held a shareholding in Championship side Queens Park Rangers but transferred his stake ahead of the proposed Liverpool investment to avoid potential multi-club ownership complications.
The Mittal family’s sporting investments include a controlling interest in the Rajasthan Royals cricket franchise and a significant stake in the NBA’s Boston Celtics.
Liverpool previously secured a £164 million minority investment from US private equity firm Dynasty Equity in 2023, with much of the money used to strengthen the club’s financial position and address debt.
If the latest agreement is finalised, Liverpool would gain one of the most high-profile investor groups in European football while FSG retains overall control of the club.
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