Lionel Messi Set to Buy Spanish Club Eldense After Agreement For 100% Stake

Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is on track to own a second Spanish football club.

Messi has "reached an agreement in principle" to buy the Valencia-based club Eldense, which plays in Spain's second division, Pol Ballús, Guillermo Rai and Sam Joseph reported Wednesday for The Athletic.

The agreement, which has yet to be approved by Spanish sports authorities, would include Messi acquiring 100 percent of the club, according to Ballús, Ral and Joseph.

Messi would also "be expected to take an active role in the running of the club," per Ballús, Ral and Joseph.

The news comes months after Messi purchased the fifth-division club Cornellà, which is located north of Valencia in Catalonia.

Eldense was previously controlled by majority owner TH Soluciones Group S.A.S., a Colombian investment group.

The club was relegated to the third division in 2024 but promoted back to the second tier in May.

Messi's ownership bid comes shortly after Eldense fired former head coach Claudio Barragán following two ties and two losses to start the season.

Former assistant coach Josep Ferrando is currently set to coach the team on an interim basis.

The purchase of Cornellà marked Messi's first ownership venture involving a European club, per ESPN's Lizzy Becherano.

Cornellà is known for its player development academy, alumni of which include Messi's former Barcelona and Inter Miami teammate Jordi Alba, per Becherano.

Messi and Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez had previously founded the Uruguyan club Deportivo LSM, which debuted in 2025 in the fourth tier of the country's football system.

Messi is also set to receive a minority stake in Inter Miami following his retirement from MLS action, The Athletic's Paul Tenorio previously reported.

Inter Miami has Messi under contract through the 2028 season, although the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner has already announced his retirement from the Argentinian national team.

Messi isn't the only star who has recently begun investing in Spanish football. Cristiano Ronaldo announced in February he had purchased a 25 percent stake in the second-division club Almeria, the majority of which is owned by Saudi investors.

Ronaldo's Almeria and Messi's Eldense are set to match up in Seguna División action on May 2, 2027.