Football superstar Lionel Messi is reportedly close to completing a deal to acquire Eldense, a Spanish second-division club.
According to ESPN, citing a source familiar with the negotiations, Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to purchase the club. However, the proposed takeover is still subject to due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council.
Eldense is currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has interests in football clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.
If the transaction is completed, Eldense would become Messi’s second Spanish club. The Argentine star acquired a stake in Cornella, a Barcelona-based fifth-tier club, in April 2026.
Messi’s investment in Eldense would represent a significant step up from Cornella, as Eldense operates at the professional level. The 39-year-old Inter Miami forward also owns a partial stake in Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside former Barcelona teammate Luis Suárez.
The ownership arrangement is not expected to create an immediate regulatory problem because Eldense and Cornella currently play in different divisions. However, Spanish football authorities could prevent Messi from holding majority ownership of two clubs competing in the same division.
Founded in 1921, Eldense have spent most of their history outside Spain’s top two divisions. The club returned to the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, but was relegated in 2025 before securing promotion again during the following summer.
Eldense have endured a difficult start to the current campaign, remaining winless in their opening four matches. The poor run led to the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragán earlier this week.
The club is now searching for a new manager and plays its home matches at the 5,776-capacity Nuevo Pepico Amat Stadium in Elda.
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