**Liverpool FC in Talks to Sell Minority Stake to Mittal-Backed Consortium**
Liverpool Football Club is currently engaged in discussions with British-Indian investor Amit Bhatia regarding a potential minority stake acquisition in the renowned Premier League team. The club's current owners, Fenway Sports Group (FSG), based in the United States, confirmed the approach from Bhatia’s consortium, indicating that the negotiations are at an early stage.
An FSG spokesperson stated, “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.” This announcement comes as Bhatia, who is the son-in-law of Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal, has taken significant steps in his professional journey. Notably, he recently stepped down from his position as a director and co-owner of English Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR), a role he held for 18 seasons.
Bhatia’s departure from QPR was marked by a heartfelt message expressing his gratitude towards the club's players, managers, staff, and fans. He stated, “I step back from my formal responsibilities with pride, gratitude and affection. I want to thank the players, managers, staff, the community trust, my fellow board members and, above all, the fans, who have made me and my family feel part of the QPR family for so many years.”
The Financial Times reported that Bhatia has engaged advisers to facilitate the investment discussions, which could potentially value Liverpool FC at over $6 billion. This valuation reflects the club's significant stature in the football world, being a 20-time English champion.
FSG, which acquired Liverpool in 2010 for approximately £300 million (around $400 million), has previously explored options for minority stake sales. In 2023, the group sold a minority stake to the global sports investment firm Dynasty, with estimates of that transaction ranging between $100 million and $200 million. The current talks with Bhatia are seen as a continuation of FSG's strategy to position Liverpool for future success.
As the discussions unfold, the football community will be watching closely to see how this potential investment could impact Liverpool FC's operations and ambitions on and off the pitch. While no formal agreement has been reached yet, the interest from Bhatia and his consortium signals a growing trend of investment in Premier League clubs, particularly from international investors seeking to capitalize on the global appeal of English football.
The outcome of these negotiations could have significant implications for Liverpool FC, both financially and in terms of its competitive standing in the Premier League and European football.