Lionel Messi Takes Ownership of Spanish Second Division Club Eldense
Lionel Messi, the forward for Inter Miami, has officially become the owner of Spanish second division club Eldense. This marks his first investment in a professional football club within Spain.
Details of the Acquisition
The takeover was confirmed by Eldense on Thursday, highlighting a significant step in the 39-year-old's ventures beyond the pitch. Previously, Eldense was under the control of Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which holds stakes in various clubs across Colombia and Switzerland. Notably, this is the third ownership change for Eldense within a year.
The deal awaits formal approval from Spain's National Sports Council (CSD), which could influence how soon Messi’s new era with the club officially begins.
A First Professional Club Investment in Spain
This move is notable because while Messi bought fifth-division side Cornella earlier this year, Eldense is his first professional-level club acquisition in Spain. Cornella remains semi-professional.
"The arrival of one of the most significant figures in sports history into Spanish professional football as the owner of CD Eldense signals the beginning of a long-term project aimed at driving the club’s sporting, institutional, and social development," Eldense said in their official statement.
Historical Context and Ownership Challenges
Established in 1921, Eldense has mostly competed outside Spain’s top two divisions. Their home matches take place at the Estadio Nuevo Pepico Amat, which holds 5,776 spectators in the city of Elda.
The club recently climbed back to the second tier after promotion in 2023, faced relegation in 2025, and returned again to the Segunda División this summer. Beyond Spain, Messi also partly owns Uruguayan team Deportivo LSM, alongside Inter Miami teammate Luis Suarez.
While owning both Eldense and Cornella currently poses no conflict due to their league separation by three divisions, any rise of Cornella into higher tiers could create issues with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) concerning club participation rules under Messi’s majority ownership.
Current Situation and Future Plans
On the field, Eldense is struggling early in the season, having failed to win any of their first four games. This slump led to the recent sacking of head coach Claudio Barragan, leaving the team without a manager as the ownership transfer proceeds.
The next steps include securing CSD approval to finalize the takeover and appointing a new head coach to stabilize the team's performance.
