Jeff Bezos-Backed Consortium Acquires Minority Stake in Liverpool Valuing Club at Over £5 Billion

Fenway Sports Group announced on Friday that a consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has agreed to purchase a minority stake in Liverpool, valuing the Premier League club at more than £5 billion ($7 billion).

The stake, which is understood to be about one third, is reportedly valued at more than £1.5bn. FSG, the club's owners who originally bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010, will retain majority ownership and operational control. The consortium, named 1892 Holdings, is led by former Queens Park Rangers chairman Amit Bhatia and includes the Mittal Family Trusts, EE Capital, and K5 Sports, with Bezos serving as the lead investor.

“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,” stated FSG president Mike Gordon.

As part of the agreement, Amit Bhatia will become Liverpool’s vice chairman and join the club’s expanded board. He will be joined by Elaine Saverin of EE Capital—wife of billionaire Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin—and Bryan Baum of K5 Sports. Jeff Bezos will not hold a seat on the board.

Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal, previously served as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake in that club last month. American businessman Jeff Bezos, founder of e-commerce giant Amazon, is the fourth-richest person in the world with an estimated net worth of $256bn (£192bn).

“To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege,” Amit Bhatia said.

Liverpool, holding a joint-record 20 English championship titles, finished fifth in the Premier League last season and is set to begin their new campaign away to Newcastle United on August 23. This investment highlights a massive surge in Liverpool’s valuation since FSG’s takeover 16 years ago, while keeping the American ownership group firmly in command of daily operations.

Furthermore, the agreement features an option enabling the consortium to increase its investment in the future, positioning the group as the frontrunner to potentially become majority shareholders if Fenway ever chooses to sell, though the group has indicated no current plans to do so.