SerpApi.Org
Fenway Sports Group (FSG) is in talks with potential investors over a sale of a significant minority stake in Liverpool, which would value the club at $6 billion.
That's according to the FT, which reports that a consortium of investors, led by Amit Bhatia and backed by the Mittal family, is actively pursuing a move to acquire part of the club. A statement from FSG to the FT confirms the story and says: "An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."
The stake would value Liverpool at roughly $6 billion, underlining the spiraling growth of soccer teams and the money put against them in the current market.
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In comparison, Premier League rival Chelsea was sold for roughly $3.3 billion, as the Blueco consortium headed up by Clearlake Capital and Todd Boehly, who has involvement in the LA Dodgers, took over from Roman Abramovich following sanctions placed on the owner after the outbreak of Russia's war in Ukraine.
British billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe took a stake in fellow English side Manchester United back in 2023, with that minority stake valuing the Red Devils at roughly $6.3 billion.
The move for Liverpool by the consortium comes as the latest big-money deal that could consolidate the value placed on Premier League clubs in the market.
Bhatia, who is leading the consortium eyeing a stake at Anfield, has experience in soccer following a spell with Queen's Park Rangers in the English Championship.
The 46-year-old, who is the son-in-law of steel tycoon and billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, recently transferred his stake in QPR to majority owner Ruben Gnanalingam, which ended a near 20-year involvement with the London club, stopping a potential conflict of interest between them and Liverpool.
For FSG, it would be the latest major restructuring in its ownership of Liverpool, which has come into question over the past four years.
Back in 2022, the owners, led by John Henry, publicly revealed that the club was open to investment through the means of a potential sale of their stake in the club.
In 2023, U.S. private equity firm Dynasty Equity bought a minority stake that was in part used to finance the upgrades seen at Anfield and other areas of the club, most notably in its infrastructure.
In the time since, Liverpool has undergone huge change both in the sporting structure and the team that has been present on the pitch.
Michael Edwards' exit from FSG came after the owners appeared unwilling to implement the multi-club model that he was brought back to invest in, while sporting director Richard Hughes looks set to leave next summer following the expiration of his contract.
All of that is on top of a change in coach, with Andoni Iraola's arrival, following the exit in the playing department of key stars such as Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson.
The changes keep on coming at Liverpool, and while there's no deal agreed yet, the ownership structure could be changing yet again.
