Messi moves to buy second football club in Spain
by Moronfolu Adeyemi · The Eagle OnlineInter Miami forward Lionel Messi has reached a preliminary agreement to take over Spanish second-tier club Eldense, setting him up to own a second football club in Spain.
The deal is subject to the completion of due diligence and approval from Spain’s National Sports Council, ESPN reported on Tuesday, citing a source.
Eldense are currently owned by Colombian investment group Grupo TH, which also has clubs in Colombia and Switzerland.
If completed, Eldense would become the second Spanish club owned by Messi after he acquired semi-professional side UE Cornellà in April 2026.
The Barcelona-based club, which competes in the lower tiers of Spanish football, has produced notable players including Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya and Messi’s former Barcelona teammate Jordi Alba.
However, Eldense would be Messi’s first investment in a fully professional Spanish club, with the second-tier side competing in the Segunda División.
The 39-year-old is also partially involved alongside his Inter Miami teammate Luis Suárez in Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM.
Eldense and Cornellà are currently separated by three divisions, meaning their ownership is unlikely to pose an immediate problem.
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However, the Royal Spanish Football Federation would be unlikely to allow both clubs to compete in the same division if Messi becomes the majority shareholder of both sides.
Eldense, founded in 1921, 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 were relegated in 2025 before returning to the division this summer.
Eldense have failed to win any of their four matches so far this season, leading to the dismissal of coach Claudio Barragán earlier this week. The club are currently without a manager.
The club play their home matches at the Nuevo Pepico Amat, a 5,776-capacity stadium in the city of Elda.
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