Amazon founder Bezos nears deal to buy stake in Liverpool Football Club

A consortium including the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool Football Club.

Sky News has learnt that Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the Anfield club's controlling shareholder since 2010, is preparing to make an announcement about a transaction as soon as this week.

The deal will see Mr Bezos participate in an investor group alongside Eduardo Saverin, one of the co-founders of the social network Facebook.

The syndicate is led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of steel billionaire Lakshmi Mittal and until recently a shareholder in Championship club Queens Park Rangers

One source indicated that an announcement was expected in the coming days, although they cautioned that it could slip into next week.

If completed, the deal would install a trio of the world's wealthiest individuals as co-owners of the Reds, one of the most successful teams in the history of English football.

Mr Bezos alone has a fortune estimated by Forbes at over $280bn, while Mr Saverin is said to be worth over $32bn.

Their investment in Liverpool will reportedly value the club at $6bn, making it one of the sport's richest-ever deals.

It will come as the world of football reels from the fallout from FIFA president Gianni Infantino's proposed sale of a stake in the commercial rights to tournaments, including the men's World Cup.

The emergence of his plans has raised searching questions about the game's commercial structure as well as that of its most powerful global figure.

Mr Infantino's plot came as money continues to pour into the world's biggest sports teams, particularly in football and in the largest US-based leagues.

While Mr Bezos has not previously been linked to deals in football, his prospective involvement in the Liverpool FC consortium underlines the extent to which sport is now viewed by wealthy investors as an asset class in its own right.

Mr Saverin, who is 44 years old, was part of a consortium which assembled an unsuccessful takeover bid for Chelsea FC during the 2022 auction triggered by Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

One insider said the deal was now expected to be slightly larger than previously thought, potentially involving a stake of over 30%.

Liverpool last won the Premier League title in 2024-25, but faces a season of transition following the sacking of head coach Arne Slot and the loss of veteran forward Mo Salah.

Nevertheless, if its valuation hits $6bn, the deal will reinforce the huge financial success that FSG has enjoyed during its 16 years as the club's owner.

The Boston Red Sox owner acquired Liverpool for just £300m with the club in a troubled state financially.

The arrival of such a powerful consortium will fuel expectations that its members will ultimately seek outright control of the Reds.

A spokesperson for FSG said last month: "An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club."

FSG declined to comment further on the potential timing of a deal.

A spokesman for the consortium led by Mr Bhatia also declined to comment.

The last time a stake in Liverpool changed hands was in 2023, when Dynasty Equity bought a small interest valuing it at more than $4.5bn.

Since taking over, FSG has largely been praised by Liverpool fans for its stewardship of the club, although last season's fifth-place finish and the decision to replace Mr Slot in May caused disquiet among many.

(c) Sky News 2026: Amazon founder Bezos nears deal to buy stake in Liverpool Football Club