Liverpool Sells 30% Stake to 1892 Holdings: FSG Remains in Control

Liverpool have sold a significant minority stake to some of the biggest names in global business – but Fenway Sports Group insist they are not going anywhere.

FSG confirmed on Thursday it has agreed the sale of 30% of the club 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 Liverpool at around £5.5bn and will install Bhatia as vice-chair on an expanded board.

Power, money and a new vice-chair

Bhatia, son-in-law of Indian steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, initiated and led negotiations with FSG on behalf of 1892 Holdings – a nod to Liverpool’s founding year. The former Queens Park Rangers co-owner has assembled heavyweight financial support: the Mittal Family Trust, K5 Sports – where Bezos is the lead investor – and EE Capital, the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin.

As part of the reshaped hierarchy, Elaine Saverin and Bryan Baum, co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global, will also take seats on Liverpool’s board. Bezos, despite his profile and wealth, is described as a passive investor and will not join the boardroom.

The numbers involved are eye-watering. Bezos is the world’s third richest man with an estimated $272bn (£201bn). Eduardo Saverin is thought to be worth about $33bn, while the Mittal family’s wealth is put at around $17bn. Yet FSG remain adamant: this is reinforcement, not a prelude to a sale.

FSG stay in control

Operational control and majority ownership stay with FSG, who bought Liverpool in 2010 for £300m in the aftermath of the damaging Tom Hicks and George Gillett era. The new transaction does not oblige FSG to sell further shares to 1892 Holdings, nor does it force Bhatia’s group to increase their stake. It does, however, give the consortium options to buy more of the club if FSG eventually choose to cash out.

For now, they insist that is not the plan.

The investment is subject to regulatory approval, a process that could take up to 90 days. Until then, nothing changes on the football side. No overhaul of the leadership, no shake-up in the day-to-day running of the club, no sudden spike in the transfer budget for Andoni Iraola.

Long-term play, not transfer splash

With Premier League and Uefa financial rules tying spending to revenue, the fresh capital cannot simply be poured into the squad. The move is designed to grow the business, not fuel a one-window spree.

FSG’s leadership – principal owner John W Henry, chair Tom Werner and president Mike Gordon – have spent close to a year sounding out Bhatia and his partners. They believe this is a strategic step that stretches far beyond Anfield’s touchline, opening doors in global business, technology and investment, particularly in India and across Asia.

Gordon, who has taken on a more hands-on role again following Michael Edwards’ exit as FSG’s chief executive of football, underlined the club’s long-range thinking. “Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind,” he said. “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.”

The logic is clear. Liverpool’s annual revenue hit a record £703m in the year to May 2025. With the commercial pull of Bezos, Bhatia and Saverin now in the mix, the club expect that figure to climb sharply in the coming years.

Bhatia steps into the spotlight

For Bhatia, this is a return to English football at a far bigger scale. He spent almost 19 years involved with QPR, serving in roles ranging from club chair to chair of the community trust before transferring his shareholding in July. At Liverpool, he is expected to be a visible, regular presence at Anfield – more so than other members of his consortium or the FSG hierarchy.

Speaking on behalf of 1892 Holdings, Bhatia framed the move as a partnership rather than a takeover. “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG,” he said. “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.”

The money, the names and the markets now circling Liverpool hint at a new phase in the club’s modern history. FSG say the foundations remain the same. The question is how far – and how fast – this new global firepower can push them.