LIONEL Messi has bought CD Eldense, the century-old football club from the inland Alicante town of Elda.
The club confirmed the takeover in a brief statement on Thursday afternoon, hailing an ‘exciting new era’ in its more than 100-year history.
In its statement, Eldense said the arrival of one of the greatest figures in sporting history marked the start of a long-term project to develop the club on and off the pitch, while keeping its roots and identity intact.
The announcement ends three weeks of speculation by fans, after outgoing president Carolina Holguin named Messi as the new owner in her farewell letter on 17 September.
The deal, which sees the Argentine buy 100% of the shares from Colombian investment group Grupo TH, still needs the green light from Spain’s sports authority, the Consejo Superior de Deportes (CSD).
The takeover is not entirely without controversy, though. A court in Alcobendas, near Madrid, has ordered the seizure of 15% of the club’s shares in a debt claim brought against Holguin.
Founded in 1921, Eldense plays its home games at the Nuevo Pepico Amat stadium. It was relegated from the second tier in 2025 but bounced straight back in May, sealing promotion with a 2–1 win over Atlético Madrileño.
It is a fitting home for the former Barcelona star. The club was founded by Barça fans and still plays in the Catalan giants’ famous blaugrana colours.
The purchase sets up an unlikely new chapter in football’s greatest rivalry.
Messi’s Eldense will now face Almeria, part-owned by Cristiano Ronaldo, in LaLiga Hypermotion this season.
It is not Messi’s first move into Spanish club ownership. In April he took over UE Cornellà , a Catalan side playing in the fifth-tier Tercera RFEF.
He is also involved in Uruguayan club Deportivo LSM, founded by his former Barcelona team-mate Luis Suarez, which brought Messi into its structure and adopted its new name in 2025.
The news comes just days before Messi is due to play his final match for Argentina.
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