A momentous takeover of Liverpool Football Club has been finalized by two American billionaires with significant ties to sports investments. Last November, the club’s owners, Fenway Sports Group, put Liverpool up for sale, and at that time, it remained uncertain whether they would opt for a full or partial sale.
Among the potential suitors, Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) emerged as a notable party interested in acquiring Liverpool. Led by Josh Harris and David Blitzer, HBSE had previously vied for the purchase of Chelsea from Roman Abramovich after he faced sanctions by the UK government due to Russia’s actions in Ukraine. However, last year, a consortium led by Todd Boehly won the race to acquire Chelsea in a £4.25 million deal.
Harris and Blitzer already possess an 18% stake each in Crystal Palace, a rival Premier League club. Additionally, their portfolio includes ownership of the NBA team, the Philadelphia 76ers, and the NHL team, the New Jersey Devils.
Recently, Harris has led a significant takeover himself, as NHL owners officially signed off on the purchase of the Washington Commanders from Dan Snyder for an astounding £4.71 billion ($6.05 billion). This acquisition sets a new record as the most expensive sports team purchase globally, surpassing the £3.62 billion ($4.65 billion) acquisition of the Denver Broncos in August 2022.
David Blitzer is also part of the consortium, which boasts the involvement of NBA hall-of-famer Magic Johnson. Harris expressed his commitment to the future of the Commanders, stating, “This franchise is part of who I am, and who I’ve become as a person. But being a fan is not enough. To be successful, we understand that we need to win championships, have a positive impact on the community, and provide incredible memories and experiences for our fan base, just as I had as a youth growing up in Washington. To our team and our incredible fan base in Washington, a new era of Washington football is here. It’s time to get to work.”
While the Liverpool takeover is now complete, Fenway Sports Group is still on the lookout for new investors. Principal owner John Henry confirmed ongoing talks with potential parties earlier in the year. Henry clarified, “Yes, I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about LFC, but I keep to the facts: we merely formalized an ongoing process. Will we be in England forever? No. Are we selling LFC? No. Are we talking with investors about LFC? Yes. Will something happen there? I believe so, but it won’t be a sale. Have we sold anything in the past 20+ years?”
