Liberty Global, the majority owner of Formula E motor racing, has submitted a bid to secure a London franchise in the NBA’s planned European basketball league, according to a report by Mark Kleinman of Sky News.
The U.S.-based media and telecom company tabled its proposal before a recent deadline set by advisers to the NBA as the league evaluates ownership groups for a new city-based competition across Europe.
Sources cited in the report said Liberty Global expressed interest in partnering with MSP Sports Capital or investor Jahm Najafi, one of MSP’s founders and a vice-chairman of the Phoenix Suns.
The NBA’s European project is expected to include between 10 and 12 permanent franchises, with the auction process projected to generate billions of dollars in franchise fees.
London is considered one of the cornerstone markets in the proposed structure, and the city’s franchise has reportedly attracted multiple bids valued in the hundreds of millions of pounds.
Other cities expected to feature in the league include Berlin, Paris, Madrid, Manchester and Milan, reflecting the NBA’s strategy of anchoring the competition in major European markets.
Interest has come from a wide range of investors, including owners of major football clubs and global private equity firms.
RedBird Capital Partners, the owner of AC Milan, and Qatar Sports Investments, which controls Paris Saint-Germain, are among the groups linked to potential bids.
Private equity firms BC Partners, Blackstone and General Atlantic have also reportedly explored involvement in the franchise process.
NBA deputy commissioner Mark Tatum recently confirmed that the league has received significant interest from investors seeking permanent franchise positions in the new competition.
London already hosts professional basketball through the London Lions, who play their domestic league games at Copper Box Arena in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
The city has also staged multiple NBA Global Games, including the January 2026 regular-season matchup between the Memphis Grizzlies and Orlando Magic at the O2 Arena.
The proposed European league is currently targeted to launch in October 2027 with approximately 16 teams.
League officials are reviewing offers submitted before the April deadline, with preferred bidders expected to be announced in stages rather than all at once.
However, some potential investors have raised questions about the league’s financial model.
According to Sky News sources, concerns include the NBA’s plan to retain more than half of the league’s central revenues and the uncertainty surrounding future broadcast rights projections.
Despite those reservations, the volume of bids highlights the strong commercial interest surrounding the NBA’s effort to establish a long-term professional league presence in Europe.
