Boston-based Fenway Sports Group (FSG) has confirmed that it is ready to listen to offers for the historic, world-renowned English soccer club Liverpool FC. This was reported by several publications, including Bloomberg and The Athletic, citing “people familiar with the matter.” According to The Athletic, the sports investment firm has put together a full sales presentation for interested buyers and has hired U.S. banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley to assist with the transaction.
Fenway Sports, also known as the owner of the Boston Red Sox baseball team and the Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL), took over Liverpool for about £300 million (€343 million) in 2010 in what was a forced sale by the American businessmen George Gillett and Tom Hicks. That raises the prospect of one of the biggest-ever returns on an investment in a sports asset, with GlobalData analyst Conrad Wiacek estimating that Liverpool FC could fetch more than $5 billion, according to Bloomberg. In the last takeover of a Premier League club, Chelsea was bought for £4.25 billion (€4.86bn) by a consortium led by U.S. billionaire Todd Boehly. In a statement issued to The Athletic, FSG said it had received several offers for the club in the past but had decided not to pursue them. FSG also said it remains fully committed above all to Liverpool’s success both on and off the field.
Liverpool FC is one of the biggest teams in world football and, along with northwest rivals Manchester United FC, one of England’s most successful. The club has won 19 top-flight league titles and numerous trophies in European competitions. Under FSG ownership, Liverpool won its first Premier League title in 2019/20. It have also won the Uefa Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup under the guidance of head coach Jürgen Klopp, who was hired by FSG in 2015.
