Lionel Messi Agrees Deal to Become CD Eldense Owner
CD Eldense have confirmed an agreement for Lionel Messi to become the club’s new owner, subject to clearance from Spain’s National Sports Council. The proposed takeover would give the Argentina captain his first investment in a professional Spanish club and arrives as the Segunda División side search for a new head coach after a winless opening to the season.
Why Messi’s arrival matters for Eldense
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Club | CD Eldense |
| Stadium | Estadio Nuevo Pepico Amat |
| Capacity | 5,776 |
| Founded | 1921 |
| Current league start | No wins in first four matches |
| Previous owner | Grupo TH |
The Alicante province club will undergo its third ownership change in the space of a year if the transaction receives formal approval. Grupo TH, the Colombian investment group that previously controlled Eldense, also has interests in clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.
Eldense described Messi’s involvement as the start of a long-range plan intended to strengthen the club in sporting, institutional and social terms. The 39-year-old’s move carries particular weight because it would place one of football’s most prominent figures at the helm of a Spanish professional team.
Messi had already bought Cornella earlier this year, but that fifth-tier side remains semi-professional. His Eldense investment therefore represents his first ownership role in Spain’s professional game. He also has an interest in Uruguay’s Deportivo LSM alongside his Inter Miami colleague Luis Suarez.
A club back in the second tier
Eldense spent most of their history outside Spain’s top two divisions. They reached the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, went down in 2025 and secured an immediate return during the summer.
There is no immediate competition conflict between Eldense and Cornella because three divisions separate the clubs. However, the Spanish Football Federation would be unlikely to allow both teams to play in the same division should Cornella climb through the pyramid while Messi retains majority control of each side.
Managerial decision required
The ownership process is unfolding against a difficult start on the pitch. Eldense have not won any of their first four league fixtures, and Claudio Barragan was dismissed as head coach earlier this week.
Regulatory approval from the National Sports Council remains necessary before the acquisition can be completed. Eldense must also appoint a replacement for Barragan, with the new leadership facing an immediate task to stabilise results.
