Liverpool: FSG in talks to sell minority stake to Amit Bhatia consortium
A consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in acquiring a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club. The current owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), confirmed that discussions are underway regarding a potential strategic minority investment.
Mr. Bhatia, who is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, was previously a director and co-owner at QPR for 18 seasons. He transferred his share of QPR and stepped down from its board on Tuesday afternoon.
Investment Structure and Valuation
Sources indicate that if the investment proceeds, its structure would likely be similar to a deal FSG made in 2023. In that agreement, FSG sold a minority stake in Liverpool to global sports investment firm Dynasty. That particular deal was valued between £82m and £164m, with the funds used to help offset bank debt from infrastructure projects, including redevelopments of the Main Stand, Anfield Road end, and the club’s Kirkby training ground.
According to the Financial Times, a potential deal with the consortium led by Mr. Bhatia could value Liverpool at more than $6bn (£4.5bn).
FSG acquired Liverpool in 2010 for £300m, at a time when the club faced the prospect of administration.
Who is Amit Bhatia?
Amit Bhatia is a former investment banker who worked for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street before transitioning into entrepreneurship. His business interests span construction, real estate, and private equity.
He founded a construction company at the age of 32, which has since grown to become the largest independent building materials business in the UK, employing over 5,000 individuals. His real estate firm develops homes, student accommodation, and offices across the country.
Mr. Bhatia, a Londoner, was awarded the young entrepreneur of the year award in 2013. He also serves on the advisory board for the Saudi Arabian government’s cultural affairs and international relations unit.
His tenure at QPR saw the club achieve promotion from the Championship to the Premier League in the 2010/11 season. A stand at Loftus Road bears his surname.
He married Vanisha Mittal Bhatia in 2004 in a ceremony in France that reportedly cost more than $55m (£41m). Vanisha is the daughter of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, whose net worth has been estimated at over £22bn.
FSG’s Ownership Strategy
FSG initially indicated in 2022 that it was open to new investment in Liverpool, considering both minority shareholders and a potential full sale. The group stated that it would consider new shareholders if it aligned with the best interests of the club, under appropriate terms and conditions.
While a full sale did not materialise, the agreement with Dynasty in 2023 was described by FSG president Mike Gordon as a move to strengthen the club’s financial position and support its ambitions for continued success.
Following this, FSG explored the possibility of purchasing a second club in continental Europe to expand its portfolio, a strategy known as the multi-club model. This approach would have mirrored those adopted by owners of clubs such as Chelsea and Manchester City.
However, after evaluating potential acquisitions including Spanish sides Malaga and Getafe, and French club Bordeaux, FSG did not proceed with any of these deals and is now understood to have moved away from the multi-club model. This decision reportedly led to the departure of Michael Edwards, the former Liverpool sporting director who had been rehired by FSG to lead the multi-club project.
The current sporting director, Richard Hughes, is managing the club’s transfer strategy this summer and has a contract extending until summer 2027. Liverpool principal owner John W Henry has maintained a lower public profile regarding club matters since apologising for his role in the European Super League project in 2021.
An FSG spokesperson confirmed the ongoing talks with the consortium led by Amit Bhatia on Tuesday, 21 July 2026.
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Source: bbc.com
As NewsUK's Senior Football Correspondent, Thomas Beckwith reports on the Premier League, the EFL and the England national side for readers across the country. He reported on three World Cups for a national news agency. He holds a degree in Sports Journalism from Sheffield Hallam University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Thomas lives in Sheffield, where he watches lower-league football most weekends. “Football writing is about the decisions, not just the result.”
