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 millionaire businessman Amit Bhatia. This potential investment follows a similar structure to a deal made in 2023, when FSG sold a minority stake to the global sports investment firm Dynasty.
FSG confirmed that an investment consortium led and managed by Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in the club. Sources indicate that the deal has not yet been finalised with FSG. If the investment proceeds, it could value Liverpool at more than $6bn (£4.5bn), according to the Financial Times.
Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire businessman Lakshmi Mittal, stepped down from his role as director and co-owner at Queens Park Rangers (QPR) on Tuesday. He had been involved with QPR for 18 seasons, having invested in the club in 2007 and held numerous leadership roles. His departure from QPR is seen as an indication of the seriousness of the consortium’s bid for Liverpool.
FSG acquired Liverpool in 2010 for £300m, at a time when the club was reportedly facing administration. The Boston-based investment group, also owners of the Boston Red Sox and Pittsburgh Penguins, has previously held discussions about minority sales without reaching an agreement. The Mittal family, with reported assets of £16bn, is understood to possess the resources to complete such a transaction.
Industry sources have expressed surprise at the reported £4.5bn valuation, noting that it is higher than recent sales of other Premier League clubs of comparable size. For instance, Chelsea was purchased for £2.5bn four years ago, though that was described as a distressed sale. Additionally, Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of 25% of Manchester United in 2024 valued that club at £3.9bn.
Amit Bhatia’s Background and Business Ventures
Amit Bhatia is a former investment banker who previously worked for Morgan Stanley on Wall Street before transitioning into entrepreneurship. He operates businesses across various sectors, including construction, real estate, and private equity.
The construction company he founded at the age of 32 is now described as the largest independent building materials business in the UK, employing over 5,000 people. His real estate firm develops homes, student accommodation, and office spaces across the country. Bhatia, a Londoner, was recognised with the young entrepreneur of the year award in 2013 and serves on the advisory board for the Saudi Arabian government’s cultural affairs and international relations unit.
His connection to the Mittal family stems from his marriage to Vanisha Mittal Bhatia in 2004. Their wedding in France was a six-day event, reportedly costing over $55m (£41m), and was recognised at the time by Guinness World Records as the most expensive of its kind. Vanisha is the daughter of steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, whose net worth has been estimated at over $30bn (£22bn).
FSG’s Ownership Strategy and Recent Developments
FSG first indicated in 2022 that it was open to new investment in Liverpool, whether through minority shareholders or a complete sale. At that time, the group stated that it frequently received expressions of interest from third parties seeking to become shareholders and would consider new shareholders if it was in the club’s best interests, under appropriate terms and conditions.
While a full sale did not materialise, the agreement with Dynasty in 2023 was valued between £82m and £164m. FSG hailed this deal as beneficial for offsetting bank debt accumulated from infrastructure projects, including the redevelopments of the Main Stand, Anfield Road end, and the club’s Kirkby training ground.
At the time of the Dynasty 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. Following this, FSG explored the possibility of acquiring a second club in continental Europe to expand its portfolio, a multi-club model similar to those adopted by owners of Chelsea and Manchester City.
However, after examining potential purchases such as Spanish clubs 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 former Liverpool sporting director Michael Edwards last month, who had been rehired by FSG to lead the multi-club project. Current sporting director Richard Hughes is managing the club’s transfer strategy this summer, with his contract extending until summer 2027.
Liverpool are currently in the US for a pre-season tour under their new head coach, Andoni Iraola, which is scheduled to commence with a match against Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
As NewsGB.org's Sports News Writer, Theo Marsden reports on rugby union, golf and boxing for readers across the country. He began on a regional sports desk in Yorkshire. He holds a degree in Journalism from the University of Hull and completed an NCTJ diploma. Theo lives in Hull, where he follows the European Tour and amateur rugby. “Sport moves fast; readers deserve it right the first time.”