Jeff Bezos consortium to buy minority Liverpool stake in £1.5bn deal

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The club are also bound by financial sustainability rules while transfer decisions remain up to the club’s sporting side, led by director of football Richard Hughes.Bezos will not become a director of Liverpool but an expanded board will include Bryan Baum from K5 Sports, a fund in which Bezos is the lead investor, and Elaine Saverin, wife of Eduardo, the Brazilian venture capitalist who launched Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg and is now based in Singapore.Bhatia will become a vice-president of Liverpool. The son-in-law of the Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal and another billionaire, he has impressed FSG personally and professionally and they consider him a partner who respects the club’s history and identity.Bhatia has been FSG’s primary partner as their negotiations.

The American group have often fielded inquiries from possible buyers and, while they had no financial need to sell, were impressed by the calibre of people involved in 1892 Holdings and their range of experience and expertise.Gordon, the FSG President, said: “Liverpool has always been built by thinking beyond one season and making decisions with the club’s long-term interests in mind. Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together.”Fenway Sports Group, owners of Liverpool since 2010, retain operational control and there will be no change to the club’s leadership (Getty)Bhatia, who stepped down from the QPR board last month, was only interested in investing in Liverpool and had not looked at other clubs.

He said: “We are incredibly proud to be investing in Liverpool Football Club and to be doing so alongside FSG. We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership, and we look forward to supporting the club's continued success for years to come.”FSG bought Liverpool for £300m in 2010.