Liverpool only looking for investors, not buyers – John Henry of FSG

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By Martin Graham | 22nd Feb 2023

Head of the Fenway Sports Group, John Henry, has stated that Premier League side Liverpool, the club which the organization owns, is not for sale but is open to investment.

News broke in mid-2022 that FSG are looking at exiting the club. The news was revived with joy in some sections of the Anfield fanbase but the media machine went to work in trying to identify potential buyers for the club steeped in rich football history.

In mid November, FSG announced that they were now considering other options including an outright sale and the addition of new investors. The media machine continued to build the narrative around the sale, even claiming that the team’s current poor form is due to the uncertainty around the club’s ownership by FSG led by Mr Henry.

Mr Henry has now come out with a new statement on the issue, one which is certain to annoy the fans that looked forward to FSG’s exit. The American billionaire has stated that the club is not for sale and that they are instead open to having an ownership group as opposed to being sole owners of the club.

He gave this statement to Boston Sports Journal in his latest interview with the American-based sports tabloid. Mr Henry effectively ruled out the prospect of FSG letting go of a club it acquired for £300 million back in 2010 which is now estimated to be worth more than ten times that amount.

“I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about LFC but I keep to the facts: we merely formalised an ongoing process,” said Henry about November’s decision to explore the market for investors alongside a potential sale.

“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-plus years?”

FSG have LeBron James as a minor partner, which sees him own a two percent stake in the club. They also have global investment firm, RedBird Capital, as shareholders, given them an unknown stake in Liverpool as well.

Selling will mean all these parties will lose their share and that is not an outcome FSG wants.

“Yes. I know there has been a lot of conversation and quotes about Liverpool, but I keep to the facts: we merely formalized an ongoing process,” said Henry.

FSG is currently in talks with American firms Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs to secure the needed investment in the club.