Everton FC has been bought by The Friedkin Group.
Everton FC has been bought by the American billionaire Dan Friedkin Credit: PA Images
Everton Football Club is under new ownership after a takeover by the Friedkin Group.A statement issued by the club said the Toffees had been acquired by Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited, an entity within the Friedkin Group.
The group is led by the American billionaire Dan Friedkin, who also owns the Italian football team AS Roma.
In other business interests, Mr Friedkin is a film producer and his company is the distributor of Toyota cars in the USA.The club said the deal had received the necessary regulatory approvals from the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, the Football Association and the Financial Conduct Authority.
The Premier League’s statement confirmed the Friedkin Group had purchased a 98.8% stake in Everton.It marks the end of a turbulent period for the club under the ownership of Farhad Moshiri.The club have twice been sanctioned under the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) in the last 13 months, and had eight points in total deducted last season.
Following the deal, the new owner released a letter to the fans saying they were honoured to become custodians of "his great institution" and they "fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world."
The full letter written to fans.
Dear Evertonians,
Following the completion of the takeover of Everton Football Club, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and introduce the incoming Executive Chairman of Everton, Marc Watts.
I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, The Friedkin Group.
Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution. The Friedkin Group is a diverse family of companies with a global footprint spanning industries such as sports, automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and adventure.
Across all our endeavours, we strive to deliver extraordinary experiences that ignite people’s passions. We are thrilled to bring this ethos to Everton and the Liverpool City Region.
Whilst we are new to the Club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world.
We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city. Once again, thank you for your continued support.
Yours sincerely,
Dan Friedkin
Marc Watts, incoming Executive Chairman of Everton Football Club, expressed his enthusiasm:"Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for The Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club.
"We are committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch. Providing immediate financial stability to the Club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this.
"While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey.”
Farhad Moshiri, the outgoing majority shareholder, stated: “I truly believe that the transaction with The Friedkin Group is the
best outcome for the Club and its future success... Despite a challenging geopolitical backdrop, a significant amount has been achieved over the last couple of years including the delivery of a new sporting department, the stabilisation of our finances and the delivery of our iconic new stadium.
I now hand over to new owners confident in the outlook for the Club and that our incredible fans will see the success on the pitch that they so thoroughly deserve.”
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