Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has reportedly been approached about joining a consortium seeking to acquire a minority stake in Liverpool F.C., a move that would add another high-profile American billionaire to the rapidly expanding roster of U.S. investors in English football. The approach also carries a corporate dimension: Amazon, through its Prime Video platform, has held exclusive UK broadcast rights to a package of Premier League matches since the 2019–2020 season, giving Bezos an existing business foothold in the league whose clubs he may now invest in directly.

Bezos, whose net worth is estimated at approximately $243 billion, making him the world's fourth-richest person according to Forbes, was approached by a consortium led by Amit Bhatia, a former co-owner of the Queens Park Rangers of England's second-tier Championship division, Sky reported.

Fenway Sports Group (FSG), which owns Liverpool F.C. as well as Major League Baseball's Boston Red Sox and the NHL's Pittsburgh Penguins, confirmed last week that it had received an approach from the consortium regarding a potential minority stake sale. If the proposed £1.35 billion ($1.8 billion) deal proceeds, the consortium could acquire a 30% stake in the club, according to reports. FSG and Amazon did not immediately respond to Fortune's request for comment.

Liverpool is among the most decorated clubs in English football, boasting 20 top-flight league titles and six European Cup trophies, according to the club's official honours.

American Ownership Already Dominates the Premier League

English football's top tier has become a magnet for American capital. As of 2024, half of the Premier League's 20 clubs are majority-owned by U.S. investors, according to The Athletic, following an investment wave that began in the early 2000s.

The trend began with the Glazer family, led by the late billionaire Malcolm Glazer, who completed a takeover of Manchester United in 2005. Billionaire Randy Lerner purchased Aston Villa the following year. Around the same time, billionaire Stan Kroenke began accumulating a stake in Arsenal before eventually assuming full control. In 2007, American billionaire Tom Hicks and investor George Gillett purchased Liverpool itself.

The wave subsequently broadened. Auto-parts billionaire Shahid Khan acquired Fulham in 2013. In 2022, billionaire Todd Boehly partnered with private-equity firm Clearlake Capital to purchase Chelsea for approximately £4.25 billion ($5.3 billion at the time), a deal that established a new valuation benchmark for Premier League club acquisitions. That same year, insurance billionaire Bill Foley led a consortium that acquired Bournemouth. In 2024, billionaire Dan Friedkin took control of Everton.

Liverpool's own American ownership transitioned in 2010, when FSG purchased the club from Hicks and Gillett for £300 million (approximately $470 million at the time). FSG is led and controlled by commodities billionaire John Henry, whose net worth is approximately $5.7 billion, according to Forbes. FSG has been open to outside investors since 2022.

The Financial Logic of English Football

The appeal of Premier League investments becomes clearer when compared to the soaring cost of American professional sports franchises. The average NFL team is now valued at more than $7 billion, according to CNBC. Most recently, the Khosla family, led by investor Vinod Khosla, agreed to purchase the Seattle Seahawks for $9.6 billion.

By contrast, the proposed Liverpool deal would value the entire club at just over $6 billion, potentially making it one of the world's most valuable soccer teams while still representing a discount relative to top-tier American franchises. That figure also aligns with the upper end of recent Premier League valuations: in late 2023, British chemicals billionaire Sir Jim Ratcliffe acquired a minority stake in Manchester United in a deal that valued the club at roughly $6 billion, including debt.

However, Premier League clubs are not guaranteed profit. Of the league's 20 teams, 14 reportedly operated at a loss during the 2024-2025 season, even as combined revenue reached a record £6.8 billion (approximately $9.1 billion), according to the Financial Times. By comparison, the NFL's 32 franchises generated an estimated $14.5 billion in cumulative revenue in 2024. The Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which cap allowable losses over a three-year period, have heightened the stakes: Everton and Nottingham Forest both received points deductions during the 2023–2024 season for exceeding those thresholds, underscoring the financial tightrope facing even top-flight clubs.

Liverpool, though, stands on stronger financial footing than most of its peers. The club recorded a record £703 million in revenue during the 2024-2025 season—when it won the Premier League title—an increase of £89 million year over year. It also posted an £8 million after-tax profit, making it one of only a handful of profitable Premier League clubs. The club also claims one of the largest global fan bases in the sport, including 26 million supporters in the United States alone.

The consortium's offer would value Liverpool at nearly 13 times what FSG paid in 2010—a return trajectory that could appeal to prospective investors. For Bezos, a stake in Liverpool would represent an investment in one of global sports' most recognizable brands for less than 1% of his personal fortune. For FSG, a deal could produce a billion-dollar influx without relinquishing operational control.

Liverpool CEO Billy Hogan contends the club's growth trajectory remains in its early stages.

"There's a huge opportunity still," Hogan told BBC Sport. "This is the biggest and most popular sport in the world and we're one of the biggest clubs in the biggest league in the biggest sport in the world."

Whether or not Bezos ultimately joins the consortium, his reported interest highlights the growing allure of the Premier League for deep-pocketed American investors seeking stakes in the world's most-watched football competition.