Football superstar Lionel Messi is on the verge of acquiring Spanish second-tier club Eldense after reaching a preliminary agreement for the purchase, according to an ESPN report citing a source familiar with the negotiations.
The proposed takeover remains subject to due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council before it can be completed.
Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has interests in football clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.
If finalised, the deal would give Messi ownership of a fully professional Spanish club for the first time and mark his second investment in Spanish football.
The Argentine forward acquired fifth-tier Catalan club Cornellà in April 2026. The Barcelona-based side operates at a semi-professional level and has produced players including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba.
Messi, 39, currently plays for Inter Miami and also owns a minority stake in Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside former Barcelona and current Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez.
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Eldense and Cornella currently play three divisions apart, meaning Messi’s simultaneous ownership of the clubs is not expected to create an immediate regulatory conflict.
However, Spanish football authorities could intervene if two clubs under the same majority ownership eventually compete in the same division.
Founded in 1921, Eldense have spent much of their history outside Spain’s top two divisions. The club returned to the Segunda División in 2023 for the first time since 1964, suffered relegation in 2025 and secured promotion back to the second tier this summer.
The club has endured a difficult start to the new campaign, failing to win any of their opening four matches. The poor run led to the departure of manager Claudio Barragán earlier this week.
Eldense are now searching for a new head coach and play their home fixtures at the 5,776-capacity Nuevo Pepico Amat Stadium in Elda.
A completed takeover would further strengthen Messi’s growing involvement in football club ownership beyond his playing career.
