Messi agrees to buy Spanish second-tier club Eldense

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Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-tier club Eldense.

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The deal is subject to the completion of due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council, ESPN reported on Tuesday, citing a source.

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Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.

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If completed, Eldense would become the second Spanish club owned by Messi.

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PUNCH Online reported that the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner acquired Spanish club Cornella in April 2026.

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The Barcelona-based fifth-tier side has produced notable players, including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.

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However, Eldense would be Messi’s first investment in a professional club in Spain, as Cornella remain a semi-professional side.

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

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Eldense and Cornella are currently separated by three divisions, meaning their ownership is unlikely to pose an immediate problem.

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However, 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 sides.

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Eldense, founded in 1921, have spent most of their history outside Spain’s top two divisions.

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The club returned to the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, but were relegated in 2025 before returning to the division this summer.

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Eldense have failed to win any of their four matches so far this season, leading to the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragán earlier this week. The club are currently without a manager.

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

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