A consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in acquiring a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club. This development follows Bhatia’s recent departure from Queens Park Rangers, where he served as a director and co-owner for 18 years. His decision to step away from the west London club appears to clear the path for his consortium to pursue a reported 30% stake in the Anfield club.
Reports indicate that Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has been approached to join this consortium. Sources close to Bhatia’s group have not commented on the specific approach to Bezos but confirmed discussions with several potential investors. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), Liverpool’s owners, also declined to comment on the matter.
Bhatia’s background and previous sports involvement
Amit Bhatia, 46, is a former investment banker who transitioned into entrepreneurship, establishing businesses in construction, real estate, and private equity. His construction company is now a significant independent building materials business in the UK, employing over 5,000 individuals. He also oversees a real estate firm that develops homes, student housing, and offices across the country.
Bhatia was recognised as young entrepreneur of the year in 2013 and is a member of the advisory board for the Saudi Arabian government’s cultural affairs and international relations unit. He is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal. Bhatia’s involvement with QPR saw a stand at Loftus Road named after him.
Jeff Bezos, 62, is the fourth-richest person globally, with an estimated net worth of $256.9bn. He stepped down as Amazon’s chief executive in 2021 to become executive chairman and retains an 8% ownership in the company. Bezos also owns The Washington Post and aerospace company Blue Origin.
While Bezos has not yet invested in sports, he has explored opportunities previously. In 2023, he was linked to a takeover of the NFL franchise Washington Commanders and had also considered purchasing the Seattle Seahawks. However, he ultimately chose not to submit offers for either team.
FSG’s investment strategy and club valuation
FSG purchased Liverpool in 2010 for £300m. A deal with the Bhatia consortium is reported to value the club at approximately £4.5bn. In 2023, FSG sold a minority stake to global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity, a move that helped offset revenue losses during the pandemic and fund projects such as the club’s training centre in Kirkby and the Anfield Road stand expansion.
Unlike the previous investment, Liverpool is currently in a strong financial position, having reported record revenues exceeding £700m in February. This financial strength raises questions about FSG’s long-term strategy and whether the current interest in new investment could be a step towards a potential full sale of the club.
FSG has overseen significant success for Liverpool since 2010, including multiple Premier League titles, a Champions League win, and upgrades to the training ground and stadium. The prospect of new investors introduces questions for supporters regarding the future direction of the club, especially if the new investors are entering elite-level sports for the first time.
The club is also experiencing changes at a senior level, with Michael Edwards stepping down as FSG’s CEO of football. This departure is primarily due to the ownership moving away from the idea of investing in other football clubs, a multi-club model that FSG had explored but ultimately decided against pursuing. Current sporting director Richard Hughes is managing the club’s transfer strategy this summer.
FSG had previously indicated in 2022 that it was open to new investment, either from minority shareholders or through a full sale, if it served the best interests of the club. The agreement with Dynasty in 2023 was valued between £82m and £164m.
The story of potential investment in Liverpool gained further attention on Wednesday.
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Source: bbc.com
