Liverpool Sells 30% Stake to 1892 Holdings Consortium
Liverpool have sold a major stake to some of the biggest names in global business – but Fenway Sports Group insist they are nowhere near the exit.
FSG confirmed it has agreed to sell 30% of Liverpool to a new consortium, 1892 Holdings, fronted by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia and backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co‑founder Eduardo Saverin. The deal, worth £1.65bn, values the club at around £5.5bn and will install Bhatia as vice-chair on an expanded board.
A heavyweight consortium at Anfield’s door
Bhatia, son-in-law of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, initiated and led the talks with FSG. The name of his group, 1892 Holdings, is a nod to Liverpool’s founding year, and the money behind it is formidable.
Bhatia has drawn financial support from the Mittal Family Trust, the K5 Sports fund – where Bezos is the lead investor – and EE Capital, the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin. Elaine Saverin and Bryan Baum, co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global, will also take seats on the Liverpool board. Bezos, despite his presence in the deal, will remain a passive investor and will not sit on the board.
The numbers are staggering. Bezos is the world’s third richest man, with an estimated fortune of $272bn (£201bn). Eduardo Saverin is valued at around $33bn. The Mittal family are worth roughly $17bn. Yet control of Liverpool will stay where it has been since 2010: with FSG.
The Boston-based group retain majority ownership and operational control. The club’s leadership structure and day-to-day running are unchanged.
No quick cash splash, no forced sale
The 1892 Holdings investment still needs regulatory approval, a process that could take up to 90 days. FSG are adamant on two points: this is not the start of a managed exit, and it is not a fast track to a blockbuster transfer window.
There is no clause forcing FSG to sell more shares to Bhatia’s group, and no obligation on the consortium to increase its stake. What the agreement does give 1892 Holdings is the option to buy more of the club if, at some point, FSG decide to sell.
For now, Liverpool’s transfer budget and strategy for this summer remain untouched. With Premier League and Uefa rules tying spending to revenue, fresh equity alone does not hand head coach Andoni Iraola an immediate war chest.
The play here is longer term. With Bezos, Bhatia and Saverin involved, Liverpool see a chance to drive commercial growth and push annual revenue even higher, building on the record £703m posted for the year ending May 2025.
Why FSG chose Bhatia
FSG say the attraction was not desperation for cash but the shape and expertise of the consortium. Principal owner John W Henry, chair Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon have spent almost a year sounding out Bhatia and his partners.
They believe the partnership can unlock new opportunities in global business, technology and investment, particularly in India and Asia – markets they view as critical to Liverpool’s next phase of growth.
Gordon, who has taken on a more hands-on role again at Liverpool after Michael Edwards left his position as FSG’s chief executive of football, underlined the thinking behind the deal.
“Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind. That approach continues to attract interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world.
“As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special. Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together.”
On the other side of the table, Bhatia framed the move as a long-term commitment, not a speculative play.
“We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG. We have the utmost respect and admiration for FSG as owners and for everything they have achieved at Anfield.
“To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege. We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to supporting the club’s continued success for years to come.”
A familiar face, a bigger stage
Bhatia is no stranger to English football. He spent almost 19 years involved with Queens Park Rangers, serving as club chair and chair of the club’s community trust before transferring his shareholding in July.
At Liverpool, he is expected to be a far more visible figure than Bezos, Saverin or FSG’s Boston-based hierarchy. Anfield, long accustomed to American ownership conducted largely from afar, is about to get a new, high-profile presence in the directors’ box.
The money is huge, the names even bigger. The question now is how quickly Liverpool can turn this boardroom muscle into an even stronger position on the pitch – and in the global game they are desperate to dominate.
