John Henry responds when asked if he intends to sell Liverpool

Liverpool principal owner John W. Henry has hinted at whether or not Fenway Sports Group would be looking to sell the Reds.

From late 2022 to mid-2023, the Reds have been at the center of much rumor and speculation regarding a potential sale of the club by FSG, after owners Liverpool opened the door to a potential sale of the club in November 2022.

The focus quickly shifted from seeking expressions of interest for an outright sale to seeking a minority investor, a deal that was completed last September when New York-based Dynasty Equity took a percent stake in single figure in the club. at a valuation of $5 billion.

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That deal was done to raise capital to pay off bank debt to improve the club’s cash flow position by eliminating interest-bearing debt repayments, helping the club’s balance sheet move forward.

The club’s initial move to seek a sale was prompted by a desire to test the market for interest in the club and its potential valuation, with a US source familiar with the matter repeatedly telling the ECHO that a full sale was not in the agenda.

When Henry spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview last March, the Reds’ principal owner said FSG’s commitment to the club was “stronger than ever”.

Fast forward 15 months and a new era begins on the pitch next season under Arne Slot, the head coach brought in to replace legendary figure Jurgen Klopp, whose nine-year spell as manager ended last month.

Henry was again questioned about the possibility of selling Liverpool, as well as his appetite to sell the other sports properties he owns, namely the Boston Red Sox and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

In emails to the Financial Times, Henry said: “My wife and I live and work in Boston. We are committed to the city, the region. So the Sox will not be for sale. We generally do not sell assets.”

The failure to state directly that they will not sell Liverpool will likely see plenty of conspiracy theories emerge on social media, but Liverpool’s value to FSG has never been about annual dividends from the club’s profits, but about creating . value and verification at a high level.

They will end their spell as Liverpool owners at some point, but the same well-placed sources in the US have told the ECHO that the exit point is not anytime soon, with a considerable way to go in terms of value creation and opportunity with Liverpool , especially at a time when the US market is finally opening up in a big way to the game of “soccer” and the Premier League. The Reds have a sizeable footprint in the US to help them get off to a strong start.

The creation of FSG International, led by CEO Billy Hogan, will add another football club to FSG’s portfolio to help Liverpool’s long-term plans. The plans for FSG in Liverpool remain long-term, but the ties that bind Liverpool are not as strong as in Boston, so there will be an exit strategy at some point.