The former Argentina captain is close to completing a deal that would see him purchase 100 per cent of the club’s shares, potentially marking a new chapter for a player whose influence on Spanish football has extended well beyond his years at Barcelona.
While details of the proposed takeover are still being finalised, Messi’s potential arrival has placed Eldense firmly in the spotlight.
Here are five things to know about the Spanish club:
1. Eldense is based in Alicante
CD Eldense is based in Elda, a city in the province of Alicante within Spain’s Valencian Community.
The club represents a city with a long footballing tradition and has spent much of its history competing outside Spain’s top flight.
2. The club was founded in 1921
Eldense was established on September 17, 1921, making it one of the oldest football clubs in the region.
The club is regarded as the oldest surviving club in Alicante province following the disappearance of Alicante CF.
Its century-long history gives Eldense a strong historical identity despite its relatively modest profile compared with Spain’s biggest clubs.
3. Eldense survived a match-fixing scandal
The club endured one of the most difficult periods in its history in 2017 when it became embroiled in a match-fixing scandal.
The controversy threatened the club’s existence and caused major damage to its reputation. Eldense survived the crisis and subsequently began the process of rebuilding its footballing structure.
The episode remains one of the defining moments in the modern history of the club.
4. Eldense returned to the Segunda División
Eldense returned to Spain’s Segunda División for the 2026-27 season after a brief spell competing in the third tier.
The promotion represented an important step in the club’s efforts to establish itself at a higher level of Spanish football.
However, the return to the second tier has proved challenging, with Eldense currently occupying 20th position in the Segunda standings.
5. The club recently changed ownership
Before Messi emerged as a potential new owner, Eldense had already undergone a change in ownership.
TH Soluciones Group took control of the club in October last year, beginning a new phase in its corporate and sporting development.
Messi’s proposed acquisition of the club would therefore represent another major change in ownership — and potentially the most high-profile one in Eldense’s history.
If completed, the takeover would give Messi control of a professional Spanish club and provide Eldense with an unprecedented connection to one of football’s most recognisable figures.
For a club founded more than a century ago and which has survived financial, sporting and reputational challenges, the prospect of being owned by a global football icon could usher in one of the most remarkable chapters in its history.