Bezos-Backed Consortium Acquires 38% Stake in Liverpool

A consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has acquired about 38% of Liverpool from Fenway Sports Group, a larger stake than first reported. BBC Sport reported the revised figure on Tuesday, citing The Athletic, after initial accounts described the investment as roughly one-third of the Premier League club.

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The agreement also gives 1892 Holdings an option to acquire a controlling stake in Liverpool during the next 12 months, according to BBC Sport. The option does not amount to a commitment to complete a takeover, leaving the club under Fenway Sports Group's majority ownership and operational control for now.

Fenway Sports Group announced on Friday that it had entered a definitive agreement to sell what it called a strategic minority investment to 1892 Holdings. The consortium's name references Liverpool's founding year. Its participants include Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin, while Bhatia leads the group.

The Associated Press reported that FSG said in July it had been approached by the Bhatia-led group about an investment. Friday's announcement therefore advanced the process from preliminary talks to a definitive agreement, while the proposed board changes remain subject to regulatory approval.

Bhatia is set to become Liverpool's vice-chairman and join an expanded board, subject to regulatory approval. He previously spent 18 years as a director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers before giving up his stake in the Championship club last month. Bhatia is also the son-in-law of Indian steel businessman Lakshmi Mittal.

BBC Sport said the transaction is understood to value Liverpool at between £5 billion and £6 billion. The Associated Press previously reported that FSG bought Liverpool for £300 million in 2010. The Boston-based ownership group also owns Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox.

The fresh disclosure clarifies the scale of 1892 Holdings' immediate position without resolving whether it will exercise the control option. The consortium holds a significant minority stake, but any shift to majority control would require a further transaction. For now, Bhatia's planned board role is the clearest announced change to Liverpool's leadership structure arising from the deal.