Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s majority owner, has reached an agreement to sell a 30% share in the club to a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin among the investors involved.

The transaction is understood to be worth £1.65bn and places Liverpool’s overall valuation at approximately £5.5bn. As part of the arrangement, Bhatia will take up the role of vice-chairman under an expanded Liverpool board.

Bhatia, who is married into the family of Indian steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, was the driving force behind negotiations with FSG. He represented 1892 Holdings, the consortium whose name pays tribute to the year Liverpool were founded.

The group backing Bhatia includes the Mittal Family Trust, K5 Sports and EE Capital. K5 Sports is led by Bezos as its principal investor, while EE Capital serves as the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin.

Elaine Saverin will also become a member of Liverpool’s board, alongside Bryan Baum, the co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global. Bezos, despite being one of the most prominent financial figures involved in the deal, is expected to remain a passive investor and will not receive a board position.

FSG remain in charge at Anfield

The arrival of several wealthy investors will not change Liverpool’s ownership structure in terms of operational authority. FSG will continue to hold the majority stake and retain responsibility for running the club.

Bezos is currently estimated to have a fortune of $272bn (£201bn), making him the world’s third-richest individual. Saverin’s wealth is put at around $33bn, while the Mittal family is valued at approximately $17bn.

The agreement with 1892 Holdings still needs regulatory clearance, a process that could take as long as 90 days. Importantly for Liverpool supporters, the investment will not alter the club’s transfer plans or spending strategy during the current summer window. There will also be no changes to the existing leadership structure or the way Liverpool operate on a daily basis.

FSG have stressed that bringing in the new investors should not be interpreted as the beginning of an exit from Liverpool. The American ownership group bought the club in 2010 for £300m, following the troubled period under Tom Hicks and George Gillett.

There is no requirement for FSG to sell further shares to 1892 Holdings in the future, nor is the consortium contractually obliged to increase its investment. However, Bhatia and his partners will have the option to acquire additional shares if FSG eventually chooses to sell more of its interest.

Bhatia’s group offers global opportunities

According to FSG, the appeal of Bhatia’s proposal was not driven by a need for additional capital. Instead, the ownership group was particularly attracted by the people involved in the consortium and the potential connections they could bring to Liverpool.

FSG principal owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon have spent close to a year developing their relationship with Bhatia. Their discussions convinced the Liverpool leadership that the partnership could open new avenues across international business, technology and investment.

India and wider Asian markets are viewed as particularly important areas where the relationship could create further commercial opportunities for the club.

Gordon has taken on a more prominent role at Liverpool again following Michael Edwards’ departure as FSG’s chief executive of football. He believes the latest investment reflects the same long-term thinking that has guided the club under FSG.

“Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind,” Gordon said. He added that the approach had continued to attract respected investors and business figures from around the world.

Gordon also explained that FSG found a strong alignment between its own philosophy and the ambitions of Bhatia’s consortium. He said the new partners would bring experience and different perspectives while complementing the foundations already established at Anfield.

Investment could strengthen Liverpool’s commercial growth

Although the new money will not immediately provide head coach Andoni Iraola with additional funds for transfers, the longer-term commercial possibilities could prove significant.

Premier League and UEFA financial regulations restrict clubs according to their revenue when determining how much they can spend. That means Liverpool cannot simply treat the new investment as money available for immediate recruitment.

Instead, the presence of globally influential figures such as Bezos, Bhatia and Saverin could help Liverpool expand their commercial operations and increase annual income over time.

The club already recorded its highest-ever yearly revenue of £703m for the financial year ending in May 2025. Further growth in international business, particularly across India and Asia, could provide Liverpool with additional commercial strength within the framework of football’s financial regulations.

For the immediate future, however, the club’s transfer strategy remains unchanged.

Bhatia set for prominent role at Liverpool

Bhatia expressed his satisfaction at becoming an investor in Liverpool and emphasized his respect for FSG’s ownership of the club.

He said the opportunity to become a partner at a club of Liverpool’s stature was a major privilege and stressed that the consortium’s decision was based on its belief in both the club and its current leadership.

Bhatia also said the group intended to support Liverpool’s progress over the long term and was proud to make the investment alongside FSG.

The new vice-chairman already has considerable experience in English football. He spent almost 19 years involved with Queens Park Rangers, where his responsibilities included serving as chairman and leading the club’s community trust.

Bhatia transferred his shareholding in QPR in July, ending his ownership involvement there. His background in English football means he is expected to play a more visible role at Anfield than the other members of the new consortium.

While Bezos, Saverin and the Mittal family bring substantial financial resources and global business connections to the arrangement, Liverpool’s day-to-day direction will remain firmly with FSG. The 30% investment therefore represents a significant expansion of the club’s ownership network without immediately changing who holds the reins at Anfield.