- Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle with Eldense’s current owners to become the club’s majority shareholder
- Eldense compete in La Liga Hypermotion and have made a difficult start to the season, collecting just two points
- The proposed takeover could be finalised in the coming days, but it remains subject to legal and contractual procedures, an extensive “due diligence” process, and approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD)
Messi Moves Closer to Taking Control at Eldense
Lionel Messi has agreed in principle with the existing ownership group at Eldense to become the majority shareholder of the club, which currently plays in La Liga Hypermotion.
Should the transaction be completed, it would represent the first occasion on which the Argentine star has become the owner of a professional club in Spain. That development would follow his acquisition of Unió Esportiva Cornellà a few months ago.
🚨 Lionel Messi has reached an AGREEMENT to purchase Spanish second-division side Eldense. 🇦🇷🤝
The Argentine legend is set to become an OWNER of the Spanish club. 👀
(Source: MARCA) pic.twitter.com/NHS4d3Svcu
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) September 8, 2026
Deal Still Requires Formal Checks and Approval
The agreement has not yet been fully completed. The remaining legal and contractual steps still need to be finalised, including an extensive audit process known as “due diligence”.
The deal could be finalised in the coming days once those procedures are completed. It will also require the necessary approval of Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD) before it can formally proceed.
Eldense’s Sporting Situation
Eldense are competing in La Liga Hypermotion, but the club have endured a difficult opening to the campaign. They have collected just two points so far, making the proposed ownership change a significant development against the backdrop of a challenging start to the season.
| Club | Competition | Ownership Development | Status or Detail |
|---|---|---|---|
| Eldense | La Liga Hypermotion | Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to become majority shareholder | Deal could be finalised in the coming days, subject to legal procedures, “due diligence”, and CSD approval |
| Almería | Spain’s Segunda División | Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a stake in February of this year | He owns 25% through CR7 Sports Investments |
Ronaldo’s Almería Stake Adds Wider Context
Messi’s move towards Eldense comes less than seven months after Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a stake in Almería, another club in Spain’s Segunda División, in February of this year.
Ronaldo owns 25% of Almería through his recently formed CR7 Sports Investments company. The club are owned by a Saudi Arabian investment consortium led by Al-Khereiji.
