Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-division club CD Eldense, potentially marking the Argentine great’s first ownership of a professional club in Spain.
Spanish sports daily AS first reported the agreement late Tuesday, and Eldense confirmed Wednesday that a deal in principle had been reached with Messi to acquire 100% of the club’s shares from Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S.
The purchase is not yet complete. It remains subject to due diligence, the completion of legal and contractual procedures and mandatory approval from Spain’s Higher Sports Council, known as the CSD.
Eldense said there was no set date for the transaction to be finalized.
If completed, the move would expand Messi’s growing involvement in football ownership as he approaches the latter stages of his playing career.
The 39-year-old is in his fourth season with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer and already owns Spanish fifth-tier club UE Cornella, which he acquired in April. His investment in Eldense would take him into Spain’s professional football structure for the first time.
Elda Mayor Ruben Alfaro confirmed that city officials had been informed of the agreement but urged caution until the necessary approvals are secured.
“We only received confirmation this evening that a basic agreement is in place,” Alfaro said. “At this stage, however, we must exercise the restraint required in such situations and wait to see whether the deal actually goes through.”
Alfaro said the possibility of Messi becoming involved with the club was nevertheless a major source of pride for the city.
“In any case, we should once again be proud of our city and the football club that represents us,” he said. “That someone like Leo Messi is interested in us and would like to support both the club and Elda is spectacular news.”
Eldense, founded in 1921, are based in Elda, a city of about 55,000 people in Alicante province. They play their home games at the Estadio Nuevo Pepico Amat, which holds roughly 5,800 spectators.
The club have spent most of their history in Spain’s lower divisions but have enjoyed a resurgence in recent years. They returned to the Segunda División for the 2023-24 season after a 59-year absence, were relegated in 2025 and earned promotion back to the second tier for the 2026-27 campaign.
Their latest return has started poorly. After four matches, Eldense are winless with two points and sit near the bottom of the 22-team standings. The club also recently parted ways with coach Claudio Barragán, with assistant Josep Ferrando taking interim charge.
Survival in the Segunda División is therefore likely to be the immediate priority if Messi’s takeover is completed.
TH Soluciones Group took control of Eldense in October 2025 after acquiring the club from Pascual Perez. The Colombian group, led by businessman Juan Carlos Trujillo, has links to clubs in Colombia and Switzerland. Carolina Holguin Tafur currently serves as Eldense president.
Messi’s proposed investment would give him sole control of the club, according to the reports, with no former Barcelona teammates or other outside partners involved.
The acquisition would also deepen Messi’s ties to Spanish football, where he spent the majority of his career with Barcelona and established himself as one of the sport’s greatest players.
His investment portfolio already includes Cornellà, a club near Barcelona known for its youth development. The club has produced or helped develop players including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, former Barcelona defender Jordi Alba and current Barcelona player Gerard Martin.
Messi is also involved in football projects outside Spain. He is a co-owner of Deportivo LSM in Uruguay with former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez, while his wider business interests have increasingly extended beyond his playing career.
The Eldense deal comes at a significant moment for Messi, who recently ended his international career with Argentina.
Messi announced his retirement from international football in late August after leading Argentina through the 2026 World Cup. He finished his national-team career as Argentina’s record appearance holder and leading scorer, having won the 2022 World Cup, two Copa America titles and the Finalissima.
He remains an active player for Inter Miami, with his club contract running through 2028.
If the Eldense acquisition is completed, Messi would also become one of the latest global football stars to move into club ownership in Spain.
Cristiano Ronaldo acquired a 25% stake in Almeria earlier in 2026, putting the two longtime rivals in the same division as club owners. Almeria have already beaten Eldense 3-0 this season, with another meeting scheduled later in the campaign.
