Messi becomes owner of Spanish second-tier side Eldense
The takeover has been officially announced but still requires approval from Spain’s sports authority.
Lionel Messi has officially completed the takeover of Spanish football club CD Eldense, the club says. The transaction still requires approval from Spain’s Consejo Superior de Deportes, meaning the takeover has not yet been legally completed.
Eldense announced on Thursday that Messi is to become the club’s owner. The club from Elda described the deal as the beginning of a new phase in its history. The official announcement followed earlier reports in Spanish media of an agreement in principle.
Approval from the Consejo Superior de Deportes is still required. That procedure follows from Spanish sports legislation. Until then, the transaction cannot yet be fully completed, according to reports, even though the club has already presented Messi as its new owner.
Eldense plays in LaLiga Hypermotion, Spain’s second football division. According to Reuters, Messi has thereby become the owner of a second Spanish club. In April, he also took over Catalan club UE Cornellà, which plays at a lower level.
The financial terms of the takeover were not disclosed in the official statement. Reuters previously reported that Messi wanted to acquire the shares from Colombian investment group TH Soluciones, which was the previous majority shareholder. It is unclear how much money Messi intends to invest in the club.
The new owner is taking over at a time when Eldense is under sporting pressure. Reuters reported that the club were nineteenth in the league after seven matches and had suffered four defeats. The takeover in itself says nothing yet about future transfers, the coaching staff or the club’s financial position.
Messi remains a footballer at Inter Miami in the meantime. His role at Eldense is that of owner and investor, not player. The club says it wants to grow with its new owner in sporting, institutional and social areas, but has not yet published a concrete investment plan for this.
The takeover fits into a broader development in which internationally known footballers become owners or co-owners of clubs. For Eldense, formal approval is particularly important. Only after that will it be clear what the ownership structure looks like legally and what role Messi will play in the day-to-day management.
Fact-check Approved · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The takeover, the approval still required and Eldense’s position in Spanish football have been confirmed by the club and reporting associated with Reuters. Unknown financial and management details have not been presented as facts.
- confirmed Messi has been announced by Eldense as its new owner. — Confirmed by Cadena SER on the basis of the club statement. source
- confirmed The transaction is still awaiting approval from the Consejo Superior de Deportes. — Mentioned in the club statement as reproduced by AS and Cadena SER. source
- confirmed Eldense plays in Spain’s second division. — Confirmed by Reuters and the club’s reporting. source
- confirmed After Cornellà, Messi owns a second Spanish club. — Reported by Reuters. source
- confirmed Eldense were nineteenth after seven matches, with four defeats. — Mentioned in the Reuters report. source
Editor's note
The club has announced the takeover and independent reporting confirms the key details. The deal is still dependent on approval from the Spanish sports authority; the financial terms and future investments are unknown.Sources
- El Eldense anuncia que Leo Messi ha comprado el club — Cadena SER
- Soccer-Messi becomes the majority owner of Spanish club Eldense — Reuters via The Star
- Oficial: Leo Messi compra el Eldense — AS