Jeff Bezos, founder of Amazon, is expected to become one of the owners of Liverpool FC, a storied club in England's Premier League (EPL). A Bezos-backed investment consortium is negotiating to acquire about 30% equity in Liverpool.
On the 10th (local time), Reuters and the Guardian reported that the investment consortium involving Bezos is on the verge of signing a deal to acquire about 30% equity in Liverpool. The investors include Eduardo Saverin, co-founder of Facebook. An official announcement could come as early as this week.
The consortium is reportedly led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia previously served as a shareholder of Queens Park Rangers (QPR), a club in England's second division.
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool's owner, has also confirmed interest from outside investors. Last month, an FSG Spokesperson said, "An investment consortium led, managed and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority stake investment in Liverpool."
In this investment, Liverpool's corporate value is reportedly assessed at about £4.5 billion (about $6.0786 billion·about 862.55 billion won). It is the highest level ever set for a soccer club transaction.
However, even if the transaction goes through, FSG will not cede control of Liverpool. Since acquiring Liverpool in 2010, FSG has sought to attract outside investment while retaining control of the club. If the transaction closes at the reported valuation, it would also suggest that the club's value has risen significantly over the past 16 years.
Liverpool is considered one of the soccer clubs with the largest global fan base. By winning the 2024–2025 EPL season, it recorded its 20th top-flight English league title, tying the all-time record. Including the European Cup, the predecessor of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League, Liverpool has been crowned European champion six times, has won the Football Association (FA) Cup eight times, and has a record 10 League Cup titles.
More recently, however, the club has undergone major changes on and off the pitch. Liverpool spent about £446 million (about 852.1 billion won) on new signings last season but finished fifth in the EPL. It then parted ways with manager Arne Slot and appointed Andoni Iraola, who had managed Bournemouth, as the new boss. Mohamed Salah, the club's star forward, also left the team.
Michael Edwards, FSG's chief executive officer (CEO) of football, who is credited with playing a key role in building the squad that led Liverpool's golden era, also stepped down last month. Edwards is regarded as having helped Liverpool return to the summit of England's top flight in 2020 for the first time in 30 years.
Liverpool will kick off the new EPL season with an away match against Newcastle United on the 23rd. With the manager, key players and the club's front office all changing in quick succession, attention is on how a major investment involving Bezos and others, if completed, might reshape Liverpool's future club operations and investment strategy.