Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American owners of Liverpool Football Club, are engaged in preliminary discussions with a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, regarding the potential sale of a minority stake in the Premier League club. The talks, which are understood to be at an early stage, could value Liverpool at approximately $6 billion (around £4.5 billion).
FSG emphasized that the proposed transaction would involve a strategic minority investment rather than a full sale of the club. The move is seen as a means to inject additional capital to support Liverpool’s growth ambitions, rather than indicating any shift in overall ownership control. The consortium behind the interest includes members of the Mittal family, which controls a significant portion of the global steel company ArcelorMittal.
Liverpool has experienced significant commercial and sporting success under FSG, who acquired the club in 2010 for about £300 million. The club ended a 30-year wait for the English league title in 2020 and secured another Premier League crown in the 2024-25 season, in addition to winning a sixth European Cup in 2019. Recent investments have seen Liverpool spend around $500 million on player acquisitions aimed at maintaining competitive performance, although the club finished fifth in the most recent Premier League season.
Industry observers note that the valuation under discussion aligns with Forbes’ estimate of Liverpool’s worth at $6.2 billion in May, placing the club among the most valuable football teams globally, though behind Spain’s Real Madrid, which is estimated at $9.5 billion. Comparatively, British billionaire Jim Ratcliffe’s minority investment in Manchester United in 2023 valued that club at approximately $6.3 billion, including debt.
The interest from the Bhatia-led consortium marks a continuation of FSG’s strategy to bring in external partners to fuel growth. In 2023, Fenway sold a minority stake in Liverpool to Dynasty Equity, a New York-based private equity firm, further underscoring this approach.
Liverpool’s current principal owner, John Henry, and FSG have diversified sports holdings, including ownership of the Boston Red Sox, the PGA Tour, and regional sports networks. The club remains a significant asset in the global sports market, which has attracted substantial investment interest following recent high-profile events like the FIFA World Cup.
Terms of any potential transaction have not been finalized, and FSG characterizes the process as in its initial stages. Both parties appear focused on a strategic partnership that would bolster Liverpool’s financial resources while maintaining existing management and operational control.