Jeff Bezos holds secret talks with Liverpool bid as Amazon billionaire weighs joining consortium to buy stake in Premier League giants

Amazon founder and world’s fourth-richest man Jeff Bezos has reportedly held confidential discussions about joining a high-profile consortium bidding to buy a minority stake in Liverpool Football Club. The billionaire has been approached by British-Indian financier Amit Bhatia, who is leading the group pushing for a strategic investment in the Anfield giants.

Sky News broke the story yesterday, confirming that Bezos has spoken with Bhatia and the rest of the consortium about the possibility of becoming involved. Fenway Sports Group (FSG), who have controlled Liverpool since 2010, and Bezos himself have both been approached for comment. Nothing is official yet, but the news has sent ripples through the Premier League and football world.

FSG took control of the club in a £300 million deal in 2010 and have since delivered two Premier League titles and a sixth Champions League trophy. The club has remained largely self-sufficient under their ownership, pumping in only £136 million over the past decade according to figures published by The Athletic in 2024. Now the owners are looking at their first major external investment in years, and Bezos — ranked fourth on the Forbes richest list with a net worth of $256.9 billion (£191.94 billion) — is the name on everyone’s lips.

Bhatia, the son-in-law of Indian billionaire Lakshmi Mittal, is the driving force behind the deal. He previously co-owned Championship side Queens Park Rangers, where he has a stand named after him at Loftus Road. He stepped down from that role yesterday, signalling his full focus on the Liverpool opportunity. A spokesman for Fenway Sports Group said: “An investment consortium led, managed, and represented by Amit Bhatia has expressed interest in making a strategic minority investment in Liverpool Football Club.”

If the deal goes through it would follow the same structure as a similar minority stake sold by FSG to Dynasty three years ago, allowing the club to raise capital while keeping full control of day-to-day operations. Liverpool are currently on pre-season tour in the USA, playing Sunderland in Nashville on Saturday, Wrexham in New York and Leeds back in Chicago before returning home in early August.

Manager Andoni Iraola has already signalled where the club needs strengthening. He said it is “difficult to say a number when the market is open” but added: “We definitely need to sign a winger.” He also highlighted defensive concerns, noting that Conor Bradley will be out for several months longer after a long-term knee injury. When asked about potential exits, Iraola insisted Alisson would remain No 1 despite interest from Juventus and said he wants to keep World Cup runner-up Alexis Mac Allister. “Alexis has been one of the best players of the club in the last years… I want to keep my good players. I am looking more to sign new players than losing the ones we have.”

Reds fans are excited about the arrival of £60 million defender Jeremy Jacquet from Rennes in January and another summer signing, World Cup winner Víctor Muñoz from Osasuna for £34.5 million. But more incomings are expected, especially in attack.

Bezos himself has a history of stepping away from big sports deals. He once considered bidding for the Seattle Seahawks, the reigning Super Bowl champions, and their NFL rivals the Washington Commanders, but ultimately decided against it both times. His vast Amazon empire — which generated $716 billion (£534.83 billion) last year and employs almost 1.6 million people — has made him the most powerful figure in retail and technology. Joining a consortium with Bhatia and FSG would mark a significant new chapter for the world’s richest man

FSG has 33 partners including principal owner John W Henry, chairman Tom Werner and NBA legend LeBron James. The American group has traditionally allowed managers reasonable freedom, avoiding the hands-on approach seen at Chelsea under Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital. Fans have sometimes felt the club has been too cautious in the transfer window, preferring financial sustainability over massive spending. Last summer they sanctioned the biggest transfer spend in Premier League history (£446 million), all made possible by free cash under the Profit & Sustainability Rules.

Whether Bezos joins the bid or not remains to be seen. Even if he steps back, the fact that the Amazon billionaire has held discussions with the Liverpool consortium has already generated huge excitement among fans. The club that once relied on local fans for funding now has the potential to attract one of the richest men on the planet.

The deal, if it materialises, would see FSG retain control while allowing a strategic minority investment to inject fresh capital. It would also mark the first time the club has welcomed an outside investor of this scale since the Fenway Sports era began. Whether Bezos is the missing piece or simply a name on the shortlist, the news that the world’s fourth-richest man is being courted by the owners of Liverpool has given Anfield one of the biggest talking points of the summer.

Liverpool’s pre-season tour continues, with the club now focused on building the squad for what promises to be another strong campaign under new manager Andoni Iraola. The arrival of young defender Jeremy Jacquet and experienced striker Víctor Muñoz has already given the side attacking momentum. But as manager Iraola repeatedly stressed, the market remains open and the club is always willing to look at new options.

The possibility that Jeff Bezos could become part of the ownership picture has transformed the narrative around Liverpool. From a club that has stayed self-sufficient for over a decade under FSG, the idea of welcoming a man worth $256.9 billion has sent a shiver through Anfield. Whether the final bid goes ahead or not, the talks themselves have already reminded the world why this club is one of the biggest in the Premier League — and why its future looks brighter than ever.