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Messi is set to purchase the entirety of Deportivo Eldense from the Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group. The deal is not yet legally finalized and remains subject to due diligence and necessary approval from Spain’s High Council for Sports, Mark reported

TH Soluciones Group, led by Juan Carlos Trujillo, originally took control of Eldense in late 2025. Following recent negotiations, the investment group agreed to transfer its full stake to Messi.

If the final procedures proceed smoothly, Messi will become the sole owner of the Alicante-based club without any other partners or third-party investors involved.

Ruben Alfaro, the mayor of Elda, confirmed the news and expressed his excitement. He stated that the city has received confirmation of an agreement in principle, though he cautioned that all parties must wait for the deal to be officially completed, AS reported.

CD Eldense are based in Elda, a city in the province of Alicante with a population of over 55,000 residents.

The club currently maintain around 3,500 season ticket holders, while their home stadium, the Estadio Municipal Nuevo Pepico Amat, has a capacity of approximately 5,800 spectators, according to SER Chain.

When Messi officially becomes the owner, the club’s international appeal is expected to surge significantly, which could potentially lead to capacity issues at the stadium for some matches.

Previously, in April 2026, he purchased a stake in UE Cornella, a team currently competing in Spain’s fifth division. Cornellà are based in Catalonia, where Messi spent the vast majority of his legendary career with Barcelona.

Messi’s continued investment in Spanish football reflects his ties to both Catalonia and Spain, as well as his interest in youth development, according to Dailysports.

In late 2025, he hosted the inaugural Messi Cup in Miami, an exclusive youth tournament featuring academy teams of Inter Milan, River Plate, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea, Manchester City, and Barcelona.

The forward previously held a co-ownership stake in the Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM alongside his long-time teammate Luis Suarez. However, acquiring full control of Eldense is a significant upgrade in scale, as the club are competing in Spain’s second tier.

The trend of top international stars owning football clubs is becoming increasingly evident across Europe.

In 2024, Kylian Mbappe purchased 80% of SM Caen, a team playing in France’s Ligue 2, through investment fund Coalition Capital.

In 2025, Luka Modric acquired shares in English Championship club Swansea City, while Vinícius Jr. and his partners bought a majority stake in Portuguese second-division side Alverca. Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo also holds an ownership stake in UD Almeria, another club currently competing in Spain’s second division.

Messi remains under contract with Inter Miami in Major League Soccer through 2028. Once he eventually retires from professional competition, he is expected to have more time to dedicate to his growing portfolio of business projects.