Lionel Messi has officially taken over CD Eldense, the Spanish second division club confirmed on Thursday. The move gives the Alicante-based side one of the most recognizable figures in world sport as its new owner, although the deal still needs approval from Spain's National Sports Council.
The takeover marks a major moment for a club that has spent most of its history outside the top two divisions of Spanish football. Founded in 1921, Eldense only reached the second tier in 2023 for the first time since 1964, before suffering relegation in 2025. The club returned to the second division this past summer and is now beginning a new chapter off the pitch as well as on it.
What the takeover means for Eldense
Eldense said the arrival of one of the most significant figures in sports history into Spanish professional football points to a long-term project focused on the club's sporting, institutional and social development. That language suggests the move is about more than short-term headlines, even if the full structure still depends on formal approval.
The timing is also notable. Earlier this week, Claudio Barragan was dismissed as head coach, adding another layer of change around a club already in transition. For Eldense, the ownership shift offers a clear statement of ambition as it continues to settle back into the second division.
How Messi's other club fits into the picture
Messi also bought fifth-division side Cornella earlier this year, but ownership of both clubs is unlikely to create immediate problems because they are three divisions apart. The Royal Spanish Football Federation would, however, be unlikely to allow both teams to compete in the same division under Messi's majority ownership if Cornella move up the pyramid.
For now, the focus is on Eldense and the next step in the approval process. If the deal is cleared, Messi's arrival would give the club a high-profile new owner at a time when it is trying to build on its recent return to the second division.
