Jeff Bezos Nears Deal for Liverpool Stake — and Football's American Era Deepens
Jeff Bezos is closing in on a deal to buy a roughly one-third stake in Liverpool, according to reports first surfaced by Sky News on 11 August and confirmed by BBC Sport and Reuters.
A consortium that includes the Amazon founder is in advanced talks to acquire about 30% of the club. Al Jazeera reported the deal values Liverpool at around $5.9bn (£4.6bn). The consortium's offer for that stake is worth roughly £1.55bn — half the value of the Amazon shares Bezos recently filed to sell, which were worth about £3.1bn, according to BBC Sport.
Bezos stepped down as Amazon's chief executive five years ago but remains one of the company's largest shareholders. His wider portfolio already includes the aerospace firm Blue Origin, the Washington Post, and venture capital through Nash Holdings. He has previously been linked with bids for American football franchises — the Seattle Seahawks, sold for £7.3bn, and the Washington Commanders, sold for £4.6bn in 2023. Neither attempt resulted in a purchase.
The Liverpool consortium also includes Eduardo Saverin, the Facebook co-founder reported to be worth $32bn (£23.7bn), and Amit Bhatia, who was a director and co-owner at Queens Park Rangers for 18 years before relinquishing his stake on 21 July. Football Association rules prohibit holding a substantial interest in more than one club — Bhatia's QPR departure cleared the path for his involvement on Merseyside.
For Liverpool, the appeal of Bezos is obvious enough. Research firm GWI puts the club's American fanbase at 26 million supporters. That is a vast audience for a man whose companies touch commerce, media, and streaming in nearly every American household. Whether Amazon's platforms become a more visible partner at Anfield — the stadium where Liverpool play — is a question for the months ahead, if the deal completes.
One existing minority investor with particular reason to watch is LeBron James. The basketball star already holds a stake in Liverpool whose value would rise substantially if the Bezos deal goes through, according to MarketWatch.
The broader picture is striking too. Eleven of the 20 Premier League clubs this season have majority ownership from the United States. Bezos arriving at Liverpool would add the most famous name yet to that list — a man whose personal wealth dwarfs the valuation of most clubs on the planet.
Sky News described the talks as nearing completion. No deal has been formally announced. But the direction of travel is clear: one of football's grandest institutions is on the verge of welcoming its most prominent American owner.
