Messi Agrees Deal to Take Over Spanish Club Eldense

Inter Miami CF forward Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-division side Eldense, a source has confirmed to ESPN.

According to ESPN, Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also owns clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.

The deal remains subject to the completion of due diligence and the required approval from Spain’s National Sports Council (CSD).

If finalised, Eldense would become the second Spanish club owned by Messi, the Barcelona and Argentina legend.

Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Messi had bought fifth-division side Cornellà, who are based in Barcelona.

Eldense, however, would become the first professional club in Spain in which Messi has invested, as Cornellà remain semi-professional.

Messi, 39, is also partially involved alongside Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez in Uruguayan side Deportivo LSM.

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Ownership of Eldense and Cornellà is unlikely to pose problems in the immediate future, with the two clubs separated by three divisions.

It remains to be seen, however, whether the move could limit Messi’s ambitions with Cornellà, given that the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) would be unlikely to allow both clubs to compete in the same division if Messi becomes the majority shareholder of both.

Founded in 1921, Eldense have spent most of their history outside the top two divisions of Spanish football.

They were promoted to the second tier for the first time since 1964 in 2023, relegated in 2025 and returned to the division again this summer.

After failing to win any of their four games so far this season, coach Claudio Barragán was sacked earlier this week, leaving the club without a manager.

Eldense play their home matches at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, a modest 5,776-capacity stadium in the city of Elda.