Fenway Sports Group has agreed to sell approximately a third of Liverpool to a consortium backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos in a deal valuing the Premier League club at over £5bn.
The investment group, operating under the name 1892 Holdings, is spearheaded by British-Indian businessman Amit Bhatia.
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin is also part of the lucrative partnership taking a strategic minority stake at Anfield.
Bhatia will step into the role of vice-chairman and join an expanded boardroom, pending standard regulatory approvals.
Bhatia returns to football ownership
The millionaire investor recently ended an 18-year association with Queens Park Rangers, relinquishing his co-ownership of the Championship side last month.
Bezos, currently ranked as the fourth-richest individual globally with an estimated net worth of £192bn, is making his maiden venture into sports ownership.
The American e-commerce magnate will not personally sit on the Merseyside club’s board.
Instead, Bryan Baum, founder of the K5 Sports venture capital firm facilitating the investment, will take up a directorial position alongside Saverin’s wife, Elaine.
No immediate transfer budget boost
Despite the injection of vast wealth, the transaction is not expected to alter the Reds’ immediate approach to the upcoming transfer window.
BBC Sport understands there is no separate transfer budget associated with this high-profile financial restructuring.
FSG stated that the strategic move supports long-term growth ambitions by uniting experts from global business and technology.
The American ownership group, which originally purchased the six-time European champions for £300m in 2010, firmly retains majority control and operational oversight.
FSG focus on long-term stability
Mike Gordon, FSG president, highlighted that the club hierarchy has always prioritised decisions with future stability in mind.
“As we considered this opportunity, it became clear that Amit and the consortium shared our long-term philosophy and appreciation for what makes Liverpool special,” Gordon said.
“Their experience and perspective will complement the strong foundation already in place, and we look forward to working together.”
Bhatia echoed this sentiment, expressing immense pride in joining the storied English institution.
“To be welcomed as a partner in a club of this stature is a huge privilege,” Bhatia stated.
“We are making this investment because we believe deeply in Liverpool and its leadership.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has admitted that 19-year-old Ethan Nwaneri could leave the club this summer to secure regular first-team football.
The teenager recently returned to north London following a challenging loan spell with French side Marseille.
Despite previous concerns over his commitment abroad, the returning prospect has impressed during recent pre-season fixtures.
Pre-season progress and transfer stance
The attacking talent found the net against Borussia Dortmund in the Emirates Cup and looked sharp starting against Como on Wednesday.
However, the Gunners remain open to significant offers if they cannot guarantee him adequate playing time.
Speaking ahead of the Community Shield clash against Manchester City, the Arsenal boss outlined his philosophy regarding developing youth.
“I want him to be at the club but something is in the medium and long-term, what is the best for the player as well,” Mikel Arteta explained.
“Ethan needs to play football. If he stays here, it’s because we can guarantee that he can have those minutes.”
Overcoming loan struggles in France
The young player’s time in Ligue 1 was marred by public criticism from then-Marseille head coach Habib Beye.
In April, Beye warned that the Arsenal youngster needed to drastically improve his day-to-day application and focus.
Despite those past struggles, the Spanish manager believes his player has returned looking significantly more mature.
“I think he’s done it in a brilliant way. It’s unquestionable the talent, the desire, the love and the passion he has for the game,” Arteta noted.
With the summer transfer window closing soon, the north London outfit will explore all possibilities as they finalise their squad.
Great Britain’s Keely Hodgkinson and Jemma Reekie have advanced to the European 800m final following a dramatic afternoon of semi-final racing at Alexander Stadium in Birmingham.
Hodgkinson kept her bid for a third successive continental title on track by winning the second semi-final in a controlled time of 1:57.38.
The English star successfully held off a strong challenge from Dutch 400m hurdles specialist Femke Broeders-Bol to comfortably secure her place in the showpiece event.
“Another 1:57, so I’m happy,” Hodgkinson told the BBC.
“The excitement makes me excited. I love a good challenge, and I hope for a clean race with no falling over and no wind.”
Werro reinstated after final-bend collision
The opening semi-final was marred by controversy when Swiss world-leader Audrey Werro took a heavy fall on the final bend.
Werro, widely considered the primary threat to British gold hopes, stumbled over the finish line but was successfully reinstated on appeal after appearing to clip her own leg.
Lithuania’s Gabija Galvydyte was also advanced to the final after being caught in the chaotic tangle of legs.
“I was feeling really great until the last moment but unfortunately something happened and I was on the ground one second after,” Werro explained.
Hodgkinson was relieved to avoid the earlier chaos in her own heat.
“You can’t worry about what happened to other people, but I hope she’s ok,” added the defending champion.
Carefree Reekie capitalises on chaos
Scottish runner Reekie expertly navigated the chaotic opening heat to win in a time of 1:58.61.
The 26-year-old produced a powerful late surge to avoid the collisions and ensure two home athletes will feature in the 10-woman final.
“It just shows anything can happen in championship racing and I’m just glad I switched on enough to move around it,” Reekie said.
“I heard somebody go down but I didn’t know who it was, I was just focused on getting to the finish line.”
Having suffered her own falls in the past, Reekie noted the psychological toll such incidents can take on athletes.
“That was a carefree Jemma. I didn’t panic, I’m really proud as that was really tough and there were some fallers in there.”
Following his release from Manchester United, free agent Jadon Sancho prefers to continue his career abroad despite receiving multiple contract offers from Premier League clubs.
The 26-year-old is currently assessing his options six weeks after his lucrative contract at Old Trafford officially expired.
Borussia Dortmund are believed to be among the European sides strongly interested in securing his signature.
The England attacker previously enjoyed two highly successful spells in Germany, making 158 appearances for the Bundesliga giants.
A series of recent loan spells
The highly-rated forward originally cost United £73m when he first joined from Dortmund in the summer of 2021.
However, he spent recent campaigns away from Manchester, including a productive stint at Aston Villa where he helped Unai Emery’s side secure Champions League qualification.
During his time in the Midlands, the winger also experienced continental success, featuring as a late substitute in a European final victory over Freiburg.
A subsequent season-long loan at Chelsea during the 2024-25 campaign yielded 41 appearances across all competitions.
Maintaining match fitness
The west London club initially agreed to an obligation to buy the player, but instead opted to pay a £5m penalty to return him to his parent club.
Now unattached, the out-of-contract star remains open to all possibilities but is heavily leaning towards a permanent departure from England.
To ensure he is ready for the upcoming season, the versatile forward has recently been training with non-league outfit Flixton to maintain his physical conditioning.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has refused to be drawn on rumours linking the club with Ezri Konsa and Jarell Quansah, but confirmed he wants to strengthen his squad following key defensive injuries.
The Gunners raise the curtain on their season against FA Cup winners Manchester City in the Community Shield at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Sunday.
They will begin the new campaign without two of their primary central defenders.
William Saliba is facing months on the sidelines with a back problem sustained at the World Cup, while Jurrien Timber is recovering from a knee issue.
Defensive reinforcements required
The North London club are actively exploring significant investments at centre-back to plug these newly formed gaps.
Aston Villa’s Konsa has emerged as a renewed target over recent days.
Bayer Leverkusen defender Quansah is also reportedly on the radar, with both players capable of operating at right-back and centrally.
When pressed on the England international pair, the manager chose to focus on the broader ambitions of the club.
“You know I am not going to talk about an individual but what I can obviously tell you is the ambition of the club,” he said.
“It is big that we want to improve the squad, we want to evolve the squad, in order to achieve.”
Departures remain a possibility
The Spanish tactician also hinted that the transfer window could still yield outgoings over the coming fortnight.
Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Fabio Vieira have all been linked with moves away from Emirates Stadium.
“There is an opportunity to go both ways, we have to see how the market responds and what as a club, we can do,” he added.
Providing a medical update on his absent stars, the former midfielder offered a positive outlook on Timber’s rehabilitation.
The Dutchman has returned to the grass and is currently ramping up his workload, though a return before September’s international break remains uncertain.
Conversely, the prognosis for the French centre-back is much bleaker, with the medical team managing a long-term injury.
Cadillac have sacked team principal Graeme Lowdon midway through their debut Formula 1 season, replacing him with former Alpine chief Marcin Budkowski.
The surprise leadership change comes during the sport’s summer break, just a week before the campaign resumes at the Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
Chief executive Dan Towriss made the swift decision to remove Lowdon after just 11 races on the grid.
‘A narrow window of opportunity’
Mid-season managerial exits are relatively rare in motorsport, making the sudden departure of the British executive highly unexpected.
The American outfit had previously warned they expected to spend their inaugural campaign racing near the back of the pack.
However, Towriss revealed that while a transition was always part of the long-term plan, the timeline was significantly accelerated.
“This decision was mine. I think there’s a very narrow window of opportunity when you look at what we’re building and an opportunity to build something new and innovative,” Towriss explained.
“What I didn’t want to do was build something that’s already been done, something that’s old and then try to improve it.”
Vision and reliability in focus
Towriss dismissed suggestions that recent track performances or early teething issues were the primary catalyst for the dismissal.
Instead, the Cadillac chief pointed towards maintaining a clear vision for future progress and matching the ambitions of the General Motors ownership group.
Budkowski now takes the reins with immediate effect as the sport’s newest team prepares for the second half of the 2026 calendar.
The newly appointed Polish principal has already identified fixing ongoing car reliability problems as his most urgent task.
Legendary baseball coach Skip Bertman, who transformed Louisiana State University into a national powerhouse and won five Men’s College World Series titles, has died aged 88.
The university announced the passing of its former athletic director on Friday morning, prompting an outpouring of tributes across the collegiate sports world.
During a transformative 17-year tenure beginning in 1984, the experienced tactician guided the Tigers to 11 College World Series appearances.
His teams secured national championships in 1991, 1993, 1996, 1997, and 2000, establishing a dominant sporting dynasty in Baton Rouge.
A record-breaking collegiate career
The seven-time national coach of the year compiled an extraordinary 870-330-3 career record before stepping away from the dugout.
Under his commanding leadership, the Tigers claimed seven Southeastern Conference titles.
His squads maintained a win rate of over 75% in College World Series games, a figure that remains the highest percentage in National Collegiate Athletic Association history.
Such unparalleled success led to his induction into the inaugural College Baseball Hall of Fame class in 2006.
Olympic medals and major league development
Beyond his collegiate achievements, the visionary leader enjoyed significant success on the international stage.
He served as an assistant coach for the United States team that secured Olympic gold in 1988, before managing the national squad to a bronze medal in Atlanta eight years later.
An exceptional developer of elite talent, 41 of his former collegiate players eventually reached the major leagues.
This extensive alumni list includes prominent names such as outfielder Albert Belle, infielder Todd Walker, and pitcher Paul Byrd.
‘The man who changed college baseball’
Following his retirement from active coaching in 2001, the beloved figure transitioned into the role of LSU athletic director.
During his tenure in the boardroom, he oversaw a highly successful athletic department that secured numerous national titles, including in football.
The university permanently retired his number 15 jersey and renamed the street outside the original Alex Box Stadium in his honour.
Former pitcher Ben McDonald, who played under him before turning professional, shared an emotional tribute praising his former mentor.
“The best to ever fill out a lineup card… the man who changed college baseball forever and the man who built the best baseball program in the country.”
Ben McDonald, former LSU pitcher and ESPN analyst
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid will miss the opening weekend of the 2026-27 La Liga season to grant players an extended post-World Cup break.
The new Spanish top-flight campaign commences on Saturday without its three most successful clubs.
A recent agreement between the Spanish Players’ Union (AFE) and La Liga allows teams with representatives in the World Cup semi-finals to postpone their opening fixtures.
Seven clubs in total are affected by the delayed start across the division.
Fixture reshuffle for Spanish giants
Defending champions Barcelona were initially scheduled to host Athletic Club, while Real Madrid were set to face Real Sociedad.
Instead, the Catalan giants will begin their title defence away at Elche on 23 August.
Los Blancos will travel to Espanyol a day earlier to officially kick off their domestic campaign.
Both heavyweights will then fulfil their postponed Matchday 1 obligations the following midweek.
Atletico and Celta Vigo alterations
Diego Simeone’s squad face a much shorter wait to get their season under way.
The Rojiblancos host Malaga at the Metropolitano Stadium on Wednesday, resulting in minimal disruption to their calendar.
Celta Vigo will also see their opening match against Osasuna delayed, though for an entirely different reason.
A severe fungus outbreak on their stadium pitch forced the postponement, rather than player fatigue.
Extended pre-season preparations
The extra time affords these European powerhouses a final opportunity to refine their squads before competitive action begins.
The reigning European champions will travel to Germany to play Schalke in a friendly on Sunday.
Meanwhile, the Blaugrana have two remaining exhibition matches left on their schedule.
They will visit Swiss side Basel before hosting Egyptian club Al Ahly for the traditional Gamper Trophy.