Jeff Bezos may be in talks to purchase stake in English football club that Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis is a ‘lifelong fan’ of
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly shifting his sports ownership ambitions across the Atlantic, entering talks to join a high-profile bid for a 30% stake in Liverpool Football Club. The legendary English Premier League team is famously supported by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis. According to a report by The Guardian, Bezos is considering joining an investor group led by Amit Bhatia, former co-owner of Queens Park Rangers. Bhatia is said to have submitted a provisional $1.8 billion offer to purchase the minority stake from Fenway Sports Group (FSG), the American sports conglomerate that owns Liverpool FC alongside the Boston Red Sox, Boston Common Golf and NASCAR’s RFK Racing.
DeepMind CEO’s lifelong passion for Liverpool
The potential ownership move links one of tech’s biggest figures to the favourite club of another, prominent AI leader. Hassabis has frequently spoken about his deep, personal ties to the club. During Axios’ AI+ Summit in San Francisco, Hassabis highlighted how his lifelong fandom shapes his work in sports analytics.“We’ve had a lot of teams approach us for help, and I have to try and be equal with that, but it’s hard having a lifelong spot for Liverpool,” Hassabis noted, while discussing how AI will transform upcoming international sports competitions.
Jeff Bezos ‘shifts focus’ from Seattle Seahawks to Liverpool FC
Multiple reports have linked Bezos to the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks, given his nearly three-decade history in the Seattle area building Amazon before relocating to Miami. If finalised, the Liverpool investment marks a clear pivot for Bezos away from American football. Bezos previously attempted to acquire the NFL’s Washington Commanders in 2023 before being outbid by investor Josh Harris. While the Seahawks went up for sale earlier this year following their Super Bowl victory, any remaining rumors connecting Bezos to his former home team were silenced this month.The NFL announced that venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his wife, Neeru, won the bid to purchase the Seattle Seahawks for a record $9.6 billion, with Neeru Khosla serving as controlling owner.
