One of the biggest names in football could soon have a very unexpected connection to the Costa Blanca.
Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to buy Club Deportivo Eldense, according to Elda mayor Rubén Alfaro. The deal has not yet completed, with legal and contractual formalities still outstanding.
Alfaro confirmed the development after contacting Messi’s representatives following reports about a possible sale of the Elda club.
The mayor said he had received confirmation earlier this week that the two sides had reached an initial agreement. However, he stressed that the city must wait until the deal formally goes through before celebrating.
Messi’s interest puts Elda in the spotlight
The news has already attracted international attention, something Alfaro sees as a major boost for both Elda and its football club.
He described Messi’s interest in investing in CD Eldense and the city as “spectacular”, while maintaining a cautious approach until all the paperwork has finished.
The potential takeover follows Alfaro’s recent meeting with current club president Carolina Holguín, who told him that she intended to sell CD Eldense.
For now, the council says it will respect the confidentiality of the negotiations and wait for the process to run its course.
A club with a long history in Elda
CD Eldense has represented Elda for more than a century and has experienced some dramatic changes in fortunes along the way.
One of its biggest recent achievements came in 2023, when the club returned to Spain’s Segunda División after an absence of around 60 years.
Elda Council has supported the club over the past 12 years through financial, sporting and institutional backing. It has also provided and improved municipal facilities used by the club.
Alfaro believes that work helped CD Eldense build a stronger structure and made it a more attractive prospect for potential investors.
Not a completed deal yet
Despite the excitement surrounding Messi’s name, the important detail is that the purchase has not yet completed.
An agreement in principle means the two sides intend to proceed, but outstanding legal and contractual steps could still affect the final outcome.
The council therefore plans to hold off on a fuller assessment until the negotiations conclude.
If the purchase does go ahead, it would give one of the most famous footballers in the world a direct stake in a club based just inland from the Costa Blanca.
For Elda and CD Eldense, that would bring an extraordinary level of attention. For now, however, it remains a case of waiting for the final signatures.
Bridging the Gap’s recap
- Lionel Messi has reached an agreement in principle to buy CD Eldense.
- Elda mayor Rubén Alfaro confirmed the development after contacting Messi’s representatives.
- The purchase has not yet formally completed.
- Legal and contractual formalities remain outstanding.
- Current president Carolina Holguín had previously told the mayor that she intended to sell the club.
- CD Eldense returned to Spain’s Segunda División in 2023 after around 60 years away.
- Elda Town Council says it has supported the club for the past 12 years.
- The council will wait for the deal to conclude before making a fuller assessment.
