Liverpool: FSG in talks to sell minority stake to Amit Bhatia consortium
Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the owners of Liverpool Football Club, are engaged in discussions regarding the sale of a minority stake in the club to a consortium led by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia. The consortium has formally expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in the Premier League club.
This potential investment follows a similar structure to a deal completed in 2023, when FSG sold a minority stake in Liverpool to the global sports investment firm Dynasty. FSG acquired Liverpool in 2010 when the club was facing administration.
According to one financial report, a deal with the consortium led by Bhatia could value Liverpool at a significant figure. FSG has confirmed that an investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in a strategic minority investment.
Amit Bhatia’s Background and QPR Departure
Amit Bhatia is a former investment banker who previously worked for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street before transitioning into entrepreneurship. He has established businesses in construction, real estate, and private equity. The construction company he founded is now described as 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.
Bhatia, who is based in London, was recognised with a 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.
He was a director and co-owner at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) for 18 seasons, having invested in the club in 2007. He stepped down from the board and relinquished ownership of QPR recently. A stand at Loftus Road, QPR‘s home ground, bears his surname. In a statement, Bhatia reflected on his time at QPR, stating that the club had been a deeply important part of his life and his family’s life, and that he stepped back from his formal responsibilities with pride, gratitude, and affection.
Bhatia is the son-in-law of Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal. He married Vanisha Mittal Bhatia in 2004 in a six-day ceremony in France. Vanisha is the daughter of the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal.
Liverpool’s Ownership Strategy
FSG first indicated in 2022 that they would be open to new investment in Liverpool, considering either minority shareholders or a potential full sale. At that time, they stated that they frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders and would consider new shareholders under the right terms and conditions if it was in the best interests of the club.
While a full sale did not materialise, the agreement with Dynasty in 2023 was described by FSG as helping to offset bank debt incurred from infrastructure projects. These projects included the redevelopments of the Main Stand, the Anfield Road end, and the club’s Kirkby training ground. At the time of that deal, FSG president Mike Gordon affirmed the group’s long-term commitment to Liverpool, aiming to strengthen the club’s financial position and sustain ambitions for continued success.
Since the Dynasty deal, FSG explored the possibility of acquiring a second club in continental Europe to expand its portfolio. This multi-club model would have mirrored approaches taken by owners of other prominent clubs. However, after examining potential purchases, 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 this model.
This decision to move away from the multi-club approach reportedly led to the departure of Michael Edwards last month, who had been rehired by FSG to lead the multi-club project. Liverpool‘s current sporting director, Richard Hughes, is managing the club’s transfer strategy this summer and has a contract lasting until summer 2027.
Liverpool‘s principal owner, John W Henry, has maintained a lower public profile regarding club matters since acknowledging and apologising for his role in the European Super League project in 2021. The club is currently in the US under new head coach Andoni Iraola for a pre-season tour, which is set to commence with a match against Sunderland in Nashville.
The discussions with Bhatia‘s consortium are ongoing, and the deal has not yet been finalised with FSG.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
Nathan Crowley is the Sports News Writer at NewsUK, covering rugby union, golf and boxing with six years of reporting experience. He moved from regional newspapers into digital sport. He holds a degree in Journalism from Cardiff University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Based in Cardiff, he plays amateur rugby and follows the Six Nations closely. “Speed and accuracy are not a trade-off in sport news.”
