Lionel Messi is preparing to strengthen his presence in football beyond the pitch after reaching an agreement in principle to acquire Spanish second-division club CD Eldense. The proposed takeover would see the Argentine take control of the club as he continues to build a growing portfolio of football investments in Spain.
The agreement has been confirmed by Eldense, although the transaction has not yet been formally completed. Messi is expected to purchase the shares currently controlled by Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., with the deal still subject to legal procedures, due diligence and approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports (CSD).
Reports in Spain initially revealed that Messi’s representatives had been negotiating with Eldense’s current ownership, and the talks have now resulted in an agreement in principle.
Under the proposed deal, Messi would acquire the shares held by TH Soluciones Group, which became Eldense’s majority shareholder in October 2025. Spanish newspaper AS reports that the operation is being carried out by Messi personally rather than as part of an investment group involving other former players.
Elda mayor Rubén Alfaro has also confirmed that Messi’s representatives informed local authorities about the agreement. While welcoming the development, Alfaro stressed that the process is not yet complete and that the necessary formalities must be respected before the change of ownership becomes official.
For Eldense, the potential takeover arrives during a challenging start to the season. The Alicante-based club currently competes in Spain’s Segunda División, officially LaLiga Hypermotion, after earning promotion back to the second tier. At the time the agreement emerged, Eldense were 20th in the standings, having collected only two points from their opening four league matches.
The club has also recently parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragán, despite his role in guiding Eldense back into professional football. Assistant Josep Ferrando was placed in temporary charge following Barragán’s departure.
The move for Eldense is particularly significant because it follows Messi’s acquisition of UE Cornellà earlier this year.
Messi completed the purchase of the Catalan club on April 16. Cornellà currently compete in the Tercera Federación, the fifth level of the Spanish football pyramid, making Eldense a considerably larger step into professional club ownership.
The two investments begin to suggest a wider strategy rather than isolated business deals. Cornellà provides Messi with a presence in Catalonia and in the development-focused environment of Spain’s lower divisions, while Eldense would give him direct exposure to the country’s higher-up football structure.
There could also be another ownership role waiting for Messi in the United States. Reuters reports that the Inter Miami forward is set to receive a stake in the MLS club after the conclusion of his playing contract.
Taken together, those moves point toward Messi gradually establishing a long-term role in football that goes well beyond his playing career.
Buying Eldense would represent Messi’s most ambitious club investment so far.
Founded in 1921 and based in Elda in the province of Alicante, Eldense play their home matches at the Nuevo Pepico Amat and have worked their way back into the upper levels of Spanish football following many years in the lower and regional divisions.
Messi’s arrival would immediately give the club a level of global visibility rarely associated with teams outside Spain’s top flight. Beyond the commercial effect of having one of football’s biggest names attached to the institution, the ownership change could eventually influence recruitment, youth development and the club’s long-term sporting structure.
The mayor of Elda has already indicated that discussions with Messi’s representatives have included potential future projects connected to youth football and player development, although no detailed sporting plan has yet been announced.
For now, the important distinction is that Messi has agreed in principle to the acquisition rather than officially completed it. Eldense confirmed that final legal and contractual procedures remain outstanding, along with the required CSD authorisation, and no definitive completion date has been announced.
Still, the direction is becoming increasingly clear. After investing in Cornellà and now moving toward control of a professional second-tier club, Messi appears to be laying the foundations for his next chapter in football.
