Bezos-linked consortium negotiates 30% stake in Liverpool FC in deal valuing club near £4.4 billion

A consortium of investors including Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin is negotiating the acquisition of approximately 30% to 33% of Liverpool FC, according to Sky News. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which has controlled the club since 2010, could announce the transaction as early as this week, though sources familiar with the discussions cautioned that the agreement has not yet been formalised and the announcement may be postponed.

The investment group is led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia, son-in-law of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and until recently a shareholder of Queens Park Rangers. Saverin, 44, whose fortune is estimated at over $32 billion, is also part of the consortium. Bezos's involvement gives the deal global dimension; Forbes estimates his personal wealth at about $280 billion. While his name has previously been linked to teams in American professional sports, he has not made a significant investment in European football to date.

Based on the figures under discussion, Liverpool's total valuation is estimated at about £4.4 billion, or nearly $6 billion. If the stake changing hands reaches 30%, the transaction value could approach £1.35-1.4 billion. FSG acquired Liverpool in 2010 for £300 million, a period when the club faced serious financial difficulties. The American group, which also controls the Boston Red Sox, has seen the club's value increase nearly fifteenfold over 16 years, reflecting Liverpool's return to sporting prominence, international commercial appeal, rising Premier League broadcast revenues, and investments in club facilities, including a significant increase in Anfield's capacity and the construction of a new training ground.