Spanish second-division club CD Eldense say Lionel Messi has reached a “preliminary agreement” to become their majority shareholder — the Argentine’s second investment in Spanish football this year, and his first in a fully professional club.

What the club said

“A preliminary agreement has been reached with Lionel Messi for the acquisition of the shares currently owned by Grupo TH Soluciones, which would make him the club’s majority shareholder,” Eldense said in a statement.

“The transaction is currently subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual procedures, including the due diligence process, as well as the required authorisation from the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD).”

The shares belong to the Colombian investment group TH Soluciones Group SAS, and the deal covers 100 per cent of that holding, Al Jazeera reported. Nothing is final until due diligence closes and the CSD signs off.

The club he is buying into

Eldense are based in Elda, in Alicante province, and are having a poor start to the season: two points from four games and 20th in La Liga 2. The club parted ways with head coach Claudio Barragán earlier this week.

Spain’s salary-cap regulations will constrain how far new ownership can rebuild the squad through signings.

The second club, not the first

Messi bought Catalan side Cornellà in April. That club sits in the fifth tier of Spanish football and is best known for youth development; at the time it said his ownership “reinforces his close ties to Barcelona and his commitment to the development of sport and local talent in Catalonia.”

Cornellà remain semi-professional, which makes Eldense the first professional club in Spain in which Messi has taken a stake.

Where he is now

The 39-year-old forward plays for Inter Miami. He retired from international football after Argentina were beaten 1-0 by Spain in the 2026 World Cup final.

Messi left Argentina for Spain at 13, made his Barcelona first-team debut at 17 in October 2004, and went on to score a club-record 672 goals in 778 games.

Not reported

Neither report gives a figure for the transaction, a timeline for CSD approval, or whether Messi intends any operational role at Eldense. He has not commented publicly on the agreement.