Consortium in talks to buy Liverpool minority stake

What the report says

BBC Sport reports that a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has shown interest in acquiring a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club. Fenway Sports Group, Liverpool’s owner, confirmed to BBC Sport that a group “led, managed, and represented” by Bhatia is seeking a strategic minority investment. BBC Sport says the agreement has not been completed.

Bhatia, 46, recently left his role as director and co-owner of Queens Park Rangers after 18 seasons. He is a former Morgan Stanley investment banker and has business interests in construction, real estate and private equity. He is also the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal. BBC Sport said it had sought comment from Bhatia’s representatives.

The reported approach comes as FSG continues to consider outside investment in Liverpool, a position it first made public in 2022. The group bought the club in 2010 for £300m when Liverpool was under severe financial pressure. In 2023, FSG sold a minority stake to sports investment firm Dynasty, a deal the ownership group said would help support the club’s financial position after major infrastructure spending at Anfield and the Kirkby training ground.

According to the Financial Times, cited by BBC Sport, a potential deal involving Bhatia’s consortium would value Liverpool at more than $6bn, or about £4.5bn. The development matters because it could bring fresh capital into one of the Premier League’s biggest clubs while leaving FSG in control, similar to the Dynasty transaction. Liverpool are preparing for a new season under recently hired manager Andoni Iraola after finishing fifth in the Premier League last campaign.