Bezos buys into Liverpool through K5 Sports fund

Jeff Bezos now has a soccer team. Or at least a sizable chunk of one of the biggest ones: Liverpool. Fenway Sports Group, the club's owner since 2010, confirmed the sale of a minority stake to a consortium named 1892 Holdings, in honor of the year the club was founded. And yes, the Amazon founder is among the investors.

The group is led by Amit Bhatia, a British-Indian businessman who until recently was co-owner of Queens Park Rangers for 18 years. Bhatia will also take on the role of Liverpool vice chairman, giving him a front-row seat in the club's decision making. According to sources consulted by ESPN, the deal covers roughly 30% of the shares, a figure that puts Liverpool's total valuation at close to 5.5 billion pounds (about $7.45 billion).

So where does Bezos fit in exactly? Through K5 Sports, the fund he himself leads. It's his first foray into soccer after years tied to investments in NFL franchises. That said, Bezos, the world's third richest person with a fortune Forbes estimates at $271.4 billion, is not expected to sit directly on Liverpool's board. That role will go to Bryan Baum, managing partner at K5 Global.

The consortium adds another heavyweight name: EE Capital, the family office of Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin and his wife Elaine, who will join the board. Saverin, a Brazilian businessman, has a net worth of around $36 billion according to Forbes.

Bhatia didn't hide his enthusiasm for the deal:

"We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to do so alongside FSG. We hold the utmost respect and admiration for FSG as owners and for everything they have achieved at Anfield. To be welcomed as partners at a club of this stature is a huge privilege. We are making this investment because we strongly believe in Liverpool and its direction, and we look forward to supporting the club's continued success in the years ahead."Amit Bhatia

FSG keeps control

Nothing changes in the club's day to day operations: FSG retains majority ownership and operational control. The firm, which paid just 300 million pounds for Liverpool in 2010 and also owns the Boston Red Sox, was looking for partners who shared its long-term philosophy. FSG chairman Mike Gordon explained it this way:

"Liverpool has always been built with an eye beyond a single season, making decisions with the club's long-term interests in mind. That approach continues to draw interest from respected investors and business leaders around the world. In evaluating this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special."Mike Gordon

This isn't the first time FSG has opened the door to outside minority capital. In September 2023, Dynasty Equity had already bought a 3% stake in the club for about $200 million. The difference now is the scale: this deal is ten times that percentage and brings along names like Bezos and Saverin.

It's worth remembering where the club stands right now: under FSG and principal owner John Henry, Liverpool broke a 30-year drought to win the Premier League title in 2020, a title it repeated last season to draw level with Manchester United on 20 league championships. Add to that the club's sixth Champions League crown, won in 2019, a record among English clubs. In a Premier League increasingly shaped by Gulf sovereign wealth funds and private capital, the arrival of this consortium confirms that interest in English soccer keeps growing.