Jeff Bezos Liverpool stake talks put Amazon founder near Premier League deal

Jeff Bezos is in talks over a Liverpool stake that would put the Amazon founder among the wealthy Americans buying into European soccer, Fortune reported. The discussions matter because Liverpool is one of the Premier League’s most valuable clubs, and the proposed deal would value it at about £4.5 billion, or roughly $6 billion.

Fortune reported that Bezos may join a consortium led by British-Indian investor Amit Bhatia. The group has made a provisional offer of £1.35 billion, nearly $1.8 billion, to buy around 30% of Liverpool FC from Fenway Sports Group, the club’s owner.

An FSG spokesperson confirmed to Fortune that a Bhatia-led consortium had expressed interest in a minority investment in Liverpool. Fortune said it sought comment from Bezos.

Is Jeff Bezos buying a Liverpool stake?

No completed purchase has been reported. Fortune said Bezos is in talks to join Bhatia’s group and, according to multiple outlets citing people familiar with the discussions, would receive equity in Liverpool if the consortium reaches a deal.

A minority stake means an investor owns part of a club without taking full control. In this case, the reported target is about 30% of Liverpool, leaving Fenway Sports Group with control unless a deal structure says otherwise; no such structure was reported.

Bhatia previously co-owned Queens Park Rangers, an English Championship club, for 18 years. Fortune reported that he is also seeking other investors as he works to increase funding for the Liverpool bid.

Bezos, 62, has looked at sports investments before but has not completed a team purchase, according to Fortune. He considered possible bids for NFL teams including the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Commanders, but did not make an offer. Fortune said this is the first reported case of Bezos being in talks to buy into a European soccer club.

Why American investors are looking at European soccer

Fortune described the talks as part of a broader push by wealthy Americans into European soccer, where global audiences have grown and club valuations have climbed. The report cited the visibility created by Apple TV+’s Ted Lasso and by Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney’s ownership of Welsh club Wrexham.

Liverpool already has a history of U.S. ownership. John W. Henry, through Fenway Sports Group, bought the club in 2010 from Tom Hicks and George Gillett for £300 million, nearly $400 million. Forbes currently values Liverpool at $6.2 billion, according to Fortune.

Other prominent English clubs have American backers. Todd Boehly, chief executive of Eldridge Industries, led the consortium that bought Chelsea FC in 2022 for £4.25 billion, about $5.2 billion at the time, after Russian businessman Roman Abramovich was forced to sell.

Stanley Kroenke built his Arsenal ownership over more than a decade, Fortune reported. He bought a 9.9% stake in Arsenal Holdings in 2007, became majority owner in 2011 with 62% of shares, and took full ownership in 2018. Forbes estimates Arsenal is worth $5.4 billion.

Wrexham remains the most visible lower-league example. Reynolds and McElhenney bought the club in 2020 for £2 million, about $2.5 million. Wrexham has since won three straight promotions to reach England’s Championship for the first time in more than 40 years, while its profile grew through the documentary Welcome to Wrexham.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.