Why Liverpool deal proves demand for Premier League stakes is soaring

A consortium led by Amit Bhatia has acquired a minority stake in Liverpool FC, signaling strong demand for English football stakes, according to Ed Barnett of Latham & Watkins. The sale is indicative of summer transfers being driven by team ownership rather than individual player acquisitions. Rumors abound that other Premier League and Championship clubs could be subject to similar deals.

US-owners may control 11 Premier League clubs and are driving the current trend, but there is a broader range of global investors interested in English football. The 2025 to 2029 media rights deal is valued at £12.3bn, up 17% from the previous cycle, with international media rights tenfold higher since 2007. Football clubs are also perceived as asset plays, with stadiums playing a key role in boosting asset value.

Manchester United's planned new 100,000-seater stadium and Everton's move to Hill Dickinson Stadium are examples of infrastructure projects that have transformed local areas. The commercial value of clubs is also significant, with Deloitte's 2026 Football Money League revealing that the top 20 clubs generated over €12bn in revenue during the 2024/2025 season.

As live sport is one of the few content categories resistant to disruption by AI, English football remains an exciting spectacle. New regulations introduced by the Independent Football Regulator and the Premier League will add scrutiny to ownership suitability tests, but investors remain undeterred, showing keen interest in well-capitalized buyers who wish to become strong supporters of these cultural and iconic assets.