Liverpool Sells 30% Stake to 1892 Holdings Led by Amit Bhatia
Liverpool have sold a significant minority stake to some of the richest 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 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.
A new power in the boardroom
Bhatia, the British-Indian businessman and son-in-law of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal, initiated and led the talks with FSG. The name of his consortium – 1892 Holdings – is a deliberate nod to Liverpool’s founding year, a symbolic touch for a group stepping into one of football’s most storied institutions.
He is no stranger to English football. Bhatia spent almost 19 years involved with Queens Park Rangers in a variety of roles, from club chair to chair of the QPR community trust, before transferring his shareholding in July. At Anfield, he is expected to be a visible, hands-on figure in contrast to some of his heavyweight fellow investors.
The money behind him is formidable. Bhatia has secured backing from the Mittal Family Trust, the K5 Sports fund – where Bezos is the lead investor – and EE Capital, the family office of Elaine and Eduardo Saverin. Elaine Saverin and Bryan Baum, co-founder and managing partner of K5 Global, will also take seats on Liverpool’s board. Bezos, despite his presence in the deal and his status as the world’s third-richest man, will remain a passive investor and will not join the boardroom.
FSG stay in charge – for now
The arrival of such financial clout might suggest a changing of the guard. FSG are adamant it is not.
John W Henry, Tom Werner and Mike Gordon will retain operational control and remain majority owners. The structure of the agreement does not force FSG to sell further shares to 1892 Holdings, nor does it oblige Bhatia’s group to increase their stake. What it does do is hand the consortium options to buy more of the club if FSG ever decide the time is right to cash out.
FSG, who bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010 after the near-disastrous reign of Tom Hicks and George Gillett, insist this is not the first step towards the exit. They frame it as a strategic partnership, not a fire sale.
Gordon, who has taken on a more active role at Liverpool again after Michael Edwards’ departure as FSG’s chief executive of football, underlined the long-term thinking behind the move.
“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.”
No transfer windfall – but a commercial one
Supporters looking for a sudden transfer splurge will have to park that idea. Under Premier League and Uefa financial regulations, spending is tied closely to turnover, so the immediate football impact for head coach Andoni Iraola and his squad will be limited.
The real play lies elsewhere. With Bezos, Bhatia and Saverin on board, Liverpool believe they can turbocharge their commercial operation, especially in technology, global partnerships and fast-growing markets such as India and Asia. FSG say it was the make-up of the consortium – the networks, not just the net worth – that convinced them.
Liverpool have already been moving aggressively off the pitch. The club’s annual revenue hit a record £703m in the year to May 2025. With this new alliance, they expect that number to rise sharply again.
For 1892 Holdings, this is not just a trophy investment. Bhatia made that clear.
“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.”
A global club leans into a global future
Regulatory approval is still required and could take up to 90 days, but the direction of travel is obvious. Liverpool, already a global giant, are tying themselves more tightly to the worlds of tech, private capital and emerging markets.
There will be no change to the club’s leadership structure or day-to-day operations once the deal is ratified. Iraola’s brief remains the same. The recruitment strategy does not suddenly reset. The short term stays steady.
The long term, though, looks very different. With Bhatia stepping into the vice-chair role, Bezos and Saverin lending their financial muscle, and FSG still calling the shots, Liverpool are betting that the next great competitive edge will be won not just on the pitch, but in the corridors of global business.
If that bet pays off, the real impact of this £1.65bn move will be measured not in one transfer window, but in the shape of the club a decade from now.
