Liverpool: FSG agrees to sell minority stake in club worth £82-164m to Dynasty Equity
- Published
Liverpool principal owner John Henry (second left) with manager Jurgen Klopp
Liverpool owner Fenway Sports Group has agreed to sell a minority stake in the club worth between £82m and £164m to global sports investment firm Dynasty Equity.
The deal ends the search for new investment by FSG, which wanted to retain majority ownership of the Reds.
The new investment will primarily be used to pay off the club's bank debt.
"Our long-term commitment to Liverpool remains as strong as ever," said FSG president Mike Gordon.
"We have always said that if there is an investment partner that is right for Liverpool then we would pursue the opportunity to help ensure the club's long-term financial resiliency and future growth."
Liverpool lost £100m of revenue during the Covid-19 pandemic, also spent about £50m on a new training ground in Kirkby which opened in 2020, as well as £12m re-purchasing their previous Melwood training base for use by the women's team.
The ongoing development of the Anfield Road Stand is going to cost an estimated £80m, and follows the completion of the new £114m Main Stand which opened in 2016.
The Reds also spent about £145m on transfers in the summer, bringing in midfielders Dominik Szoboszlai, Alexis Mac Allister, Wataru Endo and Ryan Gravenberch.
FSG is understood to be keen to reduce the bank debt the club have accrued through the financing of those recent infrastructure projects, and the new cash injection will help cover those costs rather than be directly used on future player transfers.
"We look forward to building upon the long-standing relationship with Dynasty to further strengthen the club's financial position and sustain our ambitions for continued success on and off the pitch," added Gordon.
In a news conference on Friday, Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said the new investment is "good news" even if it does not mean an immediate boost to his transfer budget.
"I can understand that people see money in football as all about spending and I get that. I am part of it in moments and I want to spend money as well," Klopp said.
"But people should not forget, we already built another stand and the training ground, we bought back Melwood, and a lot of stuff that keeps the club in a healthy state for a long time.
"If somebody comes in and helps us to do it that's absolutely great.
"We are in a year when we don't play in the Champions League, which is a massive financial blow for a football club but we invested anyway - we improved the team in the summer which is difficult but possible. But it's money that will be well used."
FSG, which bought Liverpool in £300m deal in 2010, said in November 2022 it "would consider new shareholders" and the new investment for a small percentage of the Anfield side brings that process to an end.
Dynasty's chief executive officer, K Don Cornwell, said: "Liverpool is one of the most iconic football clubs in the world with a passionate fanbase and significant global reach.
"Dynasty is privileged to support the club and work alongside FSG to execute on the tremendous growth opportunities ahead."
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