Messi expands Spanish ownership interests with Eldense purchase

Lionel Messi has completed the purchase of Spanish second-division club CD Eldense, adding a professional football investment to his ownership portfolio following his acquisition of UE Cornellà earlier this year.The transaction remains subject to approval from Spain’s Supreme Sports Council, with the announcement following a preliminary agreement reached in September for Messi to become Eldense’s majority shareholder.Eldense said: “Club Deportivo Eldense officially announces the acquisition of the club by Leo Messi, marking the start of a new and exciting chapter in the club's history, which spans more than 100 years.“The arrival of one of the most important figures in the history of sport as owner of CD Eldense marks the beginning of a long-term project aimed at promoting the club's sporting, institutional, and social development.”The Alicante-based club become Messi’s second majority-owned Spanish side and his first within the professional divisions, broadening an investment strategy that began with fifth-tier Cornellà in April.The distinction gives the Eldense acquisition a different operational setting, with the club competing in Spain’s 22-team second division rather than the lower-tier environment of his existing investment.Eldense have identified sporting, institutional and social development as the objectives of the ownership project, presenting the takeover as a long-term commitment rather than announcing specific changes to management or commercial operations.The announcement confirms completion of the purchase process while retaining the regulatory condition, meaning the transaction still requires the sports council’s approval before that remaining requirement is satisfied.Messi’s ownership activity is developing alongside his playing career at Inter Miami, where he is in his fourth Major League Soccer season after joining the American club in 2023.His longstanding connection with Spanish football includes a Barcelona career that began with his first-team debut in October 2004 and ended with his departure for Paris Saint-Germain in 2021.The Eldense transaction adds to footballers’ investment activity in Spain, following Cristiano Ronaldo’s purchase of a 25% stake in Almería in February.The two investments involve different ownership positions, with Messi taking majority control of Eldense while Ronaldo acquired a minority interest in Almería, although both players remain active outside Spanish football.Messi’s purchase also moves Eldense beyond the preliminary agreement announced last month, with the club now identifying him as their new owner and setting out the broad aims of the project.Approval from the Supreme Sports Council is the remaining stated condition as Eldense enter the next stage of their ownership transition.