FSG next steps for Liverpool after US investment and Lionel Messi opens the door

With Fenway Sports Group having brought their investment search for Liverpool to a close, it reaffirmed their commitment to stick around at Anfield for the long term.

New York-based firm Dynasty Equity sealed a strategic minority investment in the Reds, with the $100m to $200m capital raise being utilised by FSG to pay down the bank debt they had accrued on the balance sheet through infrastructure investments such as the Anfield Road redevelopment, the AXA Training Centre at Kirkby, and the repurchase of the Melwood training centre.

One of the factors behind FSG’s desire to remain custodians of the £4bn-plus business they acquired for £300m back in October 2010 is that there is still a significant amount of road to travel in terms of valuations, with more markets opening up and broadcasting expected to change over the coming years. Maximising these opportunities would enable FSG to increase what it takes to compete to remain elite, while aiding the valuation of the club when the time comes for them to move on.

A key market for Liverpool is America. FSG already have decades worth of experience in the North American sports market, where team valuations remain higher than in the Premier League. The US is opening itself up to football, with the arrival of Lionel Messi at Inter Miami and the World Cup in 2026 two driving forces. But the Premier League has been demonstrating its strength on the other side of the Atlantic, with viewing figures high and rising, something which prompted a £2bn deal for the current cycle of rights, and which was impactful to the bottom line of clubs.

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