Lionel Messi Completes Formal Steps to Buy CD Eldense
The proposed takeover is still subject to approval from Spain’s National Sports Council before the transaction can be formally completed.
Photo: Courtesy.
By Robert Mutasi
MADRID, Spain
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
Lionel Messi has reportedly completed the formal paperwork required to take ownership of Spanish second-tier club CD Eldense, according to Spanish newspaper Marca.
The former Barcelona and Argentina captain is understood to have signed the necessary documents as part of a proposed deal to acquire 100 percent of the club.
The development follows reports last week that Messi had reached a verbal agreement to purchase Eldense as he continues to build a portfolio of football clubs.
The proposed takeover is still subject to approval from Spain’s National Sports Council before the transaction can be formally completed.
Once the required authorisation is granted, Messi is expected to officially become the owner of CD Eldense.
Eldense currently competes in Spain’s Segunda División, the country’s second tier, and the reported takeover would mark Messi’s first major ownership move in Spanish football.
The proposed investment is also part of a broader trend involving former elite footballers and high-profile sports figures acquiring stakes in professional clubs after their playing careers.
Messi has previously been involved in various football-related business ventures, but ownership of a Spanish professional club would represent a significant expansion of his activities within the sport.
Further details about the structure of the deal, the investment involved and Messi’s plans for Eldense are expected to emerge once the Spanish authorities complete their review.
For now, the takeover remains pending regulatory approval, meaning the club’s change of ownership has yet to be formally confirmed by Eldense and the relevant Spanish authorities.
About Author
