Lionel Messi set to buy second Spanish club, agrees 100% ownership of LaLiga 2 side CD Eldense: Report

Lionel Messi set to buy second Spanish club, agrees 100% ownership of LaLiga 2 side Eldense/ Image: AP,X Lionel Messi is reportedly preparing for his next big step into football ownership, with the Argentina legend poised to expand his business interests in Spain after making his first investment in the country’s lower leagues earlier this year.The move would give the 39-year-old a direct stake in Spanish professional football, while also bringing him closer to the country where he spent the vast majority of his playing career and where he is expected to live after he eventually retires as an active player at Inter Miami.

Messi reportedly agrees to take full control of Eldens

According to MarkMessi has agreed in principle with the current owners of CD Eldense to acquire the Alicante-based club.Reports state that Messi will acquire 100 percent of Eldens shares, meaning the investment would be made entirely by the Argentine and would not include partners, former players or other third parties.However, the deal has not yet been finalized.The deal is expected to be finalized in the coming days, subject to the completion of the remaining legal and contractual formalities. These procedures include the necessary financial due diligence, while the proposed takeover will also require the approval of the Spanish National Sports Council (CSD).The club is based in Elda in the province of Alicante and currently competes in LaLiga 2, Spain’s second division. Eldense was recently promoted to Segunda División, also known as LaLiga Hypermotion, for the 2026-27 season after winning Primera Federación Group 2 in May 2026, according to reports. The club currently has around 3,500 season ticket holders.The proposed acquisition would represent another part of Messi’s emerging football business portfolio.In early 2026, Messi acquired 100 percent of the shares in UE Cornellà, a Catalan club competing in Spain’s third tier. The deal was announced in April and Cornellà said Messi’s arrival would begin “a new chapter in the club’s history” aimed at fostering sporting and institutional growth, strengthening its foundations and continuing to invest in talent.The Cornellà project placed particular emphasis on the development of the youth academy and women’s football.Eldens’ investment would move Messi’s involvement to a significantly higher level of the Spanish football pyramid, where the club would compete in professional football.Reports suggest the project is motivated by Messi’s desire to invest his footballing legacy back into the game itself, with the Eldens location also potentially fitting into his longer-term plans.Elda is in the province of Alicante and is relatively close to Catalonia, where Messi is expected to live after his playing career ends.

Eldens’ takeover comes as the club look for a new manager

Eldens was previously acquired by an international investment group with Colombian roots led by businessman Juan Carlos Trujillo, who bought the club from Pascual Pérez in October 2015.There has already been speculation about a possible change of ownership in recent months, with Argentinian businessman Ricardo Pini reportedly linked with a potential takeover worth around €12 million.Messi’s reported deal has now changed the picture considerably, although the final transaction still needs to clear the remaining requirements before it can be considered complete.

The club also has problems on the pitch

Eldense sacked Claudio Barragán on Monday, making him the first Segunda División manager to be sacked this season, according to reports.The club had picked up just two points from their opening four league games and had not named a replacement at the time of reporting.So the potential arrival of Messi would come as Eldense attempts to stabilize both his sporting and institutional situation.The proposed takeover also marks another interesting development in Messi’s post-playing career.The Argentine, now 39, has already won virtually every major honor at his disposal, including the World Cup and Champions League, and collected a record eight Ballon d’Or awards.His investment in Cornellà earlier this year signaled his growing interest in football off the pitch. Taking over Eldens would represent a significantly bigger commitment and put one of the game’s greatest players in a position to make an impact at a club competing in Spain’s professional second tier.For now, however, the key difference is that Messi has reportedly reached an agreement in principle rather than completing the acquisition.Before Messi can officially take control of Eldense, the final legal and contractual procedures must be completed, including due diligence and the required CSD authorization.