Business & Markets
Liverpool stake sale near 40%, The Athletic reports
A consortium including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos bought close to 40% of Liverpool, The Athletic reported on August 18, increasing the reported size of the minority investment in the Premier League club.
The report said 1892 Holdings had bought a stake closer to 38%, after earlier reporting put the purchase at about one-third. It also said the consortium has an option to buy a controlling stake in Liverpool in the next 12 months, although that option does not amount to a formal commitment.
Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group said on August 14 that it had agreed a deal with 1892 Holdings, a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia and also including Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin. FSG said it would keep majority ownership and operational control at Anfield.
The deal was previously reported to value Liverpool at between £5 billion and £6 billion. FSG bought the club in 2010 for £300 million and later sold a minority stake of about 3% to Dynasty Equity.
Bezos, whose estimated net worth is $256 billion, is making his first investment in a sports team. Bhatia was a co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before stepping away from the Championship club after his Liverpool link became public.
Liverpool begin their Premier League season at Newcastle on Sunday. The new investment could add resources before the transfer window closes, with the club having spent about £94 million since the end of last season on Jeremy Jacquet and Victor Munoz.
Update
The Athletic reported that 1892 Holdings bought closer to 38% of Liverpool, rather than the previously reported one-third stake.
The Athletic reported that the consortium has an option to buy a controlling stake in Liverpool within the next 12 months, but without a formal commitment.
Source note: AFP news report published on 18 August 2026 at 16:00:40 UTC.
Update
The source frames the Liverpool deal as part of a wider contest among American-owned Premier League clubs.
Liverpool will seek to use the investment to challenge Arsenal after Arsenal won the Premier League under Stan Kroenke's ownership, according to the source.
The source says Liverpool were the top-earning Premier League club this year, citing Deloitte, with record revenue of £703 million for 2024-25.
Supporters group Spirit of Shankly warned that previous changes in the club's running had led to decisions and behaviours many fans would not want repeated.
Sport finance lecturer Dan Plumley said FSG likely does not want to sell fully while Liverpool's revenue and valuation have room to grow.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 19:33:19 UTC.
Update
Fenway Sports Group has agreed to sell a minority stake in Liverpool to 1892 Holdings.
The consortium is led by Amit Bhatia and includes Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin.
FSG says it will retain majority ownership and operational control of Liverpool.
AFP reported that the stake is around one-third of the club and that the deal is believed to value Liverpool at between £5 billion and £6 billion.
Bezos is not expected to join Liverpool's expanded board, while board roles for others in the consortium were reported or expected.
Source note: AFP news report published on 14 August 2026 at 17:02:30 UTC.
Update
Liverpool supporters' group Spirit of Shankly has written to the club seeking more clarity and a meeting about the potential ownership changes.
Spirit of Shankly said the interests of Liverpool and its supporters must come first.
The group said a reported 30% sale and the consortium behind it were significant.
Source note: AFP news report published on 11 August 2026 at 11:44:41 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The Athletic report is the source for the revised stake size and the option to buy control.
The option to buy a controlling stake does not involve a formal commitment.
Source
AFP news report published on .