Everton have been put up for sale by owners The Friedkin Group less than two years after they completed their takeover of the club
A general view of Everton fans outside Hill Dickinson Stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland. Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images
A general view of Everton fans outside Hill Dickinson Stadium prior to the Premier League match between Everton and Sunderland. Photo by Richard Martin-Roberts - CameraSport via Getty Images
View Image
The Friedkin Group (TFG) are ready to sell Everton less than two years after completing their takeover of the Merseyside club. The American ownership group is seeking external investment in the Premier League side but would consider selling if the right buyer emerged to take Everton 'forward.'
TFG completed its takeover of Everton on December 19, 2024, in a deal understood to be worth more than £400million for its 99.5 per cent stake in the club from Farhad Moshiri. In a club statement, Everton confirmed TFG are 'exploring new investment options' for the club, including the 'potential sale of a controlling interest.'
It read: "When TFG became custodians of Everton, the Club faced significant financial uncertainty and challenges both on and off the pitch. The immediate priority was to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure the Club's future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters.
"With that foundation now safely in place, the time is right to consider the next chapter for Everton. We will only entertain interest from parties who we strongly believe will be the right stewards to take the Club forward and build on the momentum that has been established.
David Moyes facing major selection headache as Everton handed fresh Jarrad Branthwaite verdict
READ MORE: Peter Reid loves what he's seeing at Everton after 'strange' transfer call and gives Man City verdict
"Throughout this process, TFG’s focus will remain unchanged. We will support the Club in all ways necessary to achieve success on the pitch and will continue efforts to make a positive difference in the communities the Club serves. TFG and the Club will not be commenting further while this work is under way."
The owners have set a condition for a potential takeover, stating they will only sell if the right buyer comes forward. Until then, they intend to continue supporting Everton and remain at the club.
Potential interest has emerged from Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and American billionaire Christopher Sarofim, who both acquired minority stakes in Roundhouse last year. The Friedkin Group's original takeover of Everton was reportedly worth more than £400m.
The Texas-based Friedkin family have largely maintained a low profile since taking control. Dan Friedkin, Everton's chairman, has yet to attend a match at either Goodison Park or Hill Dickinson Stadium. This contrasts with his more hands-on approach at AS Roma, where he has made personal visits to meet players and staff.
Everton manager David Moyes previously admitted that he rarely communicated directly with TFG owner Dan Friedkin. "My real contact is Angus [Kinnear, Everton CEO]. Angus is the one who I would go to see," Moyes said.
"Rishi [Majithia, TFG representative] is the next one and then the head of the Friedkin family in America. I don’t really get any direct conversations with them, but I do through Rishi, he is the one I would speak to."
Everton faced widespread criticism over a difficult summer transfer window, prompting TFG to explore investment in the club. The Blues pocketed more £100million on deadline day with their most creative talent Iliman Ndiaye, last season’s top scorer Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson all sold, plus Adam Aznou loaned out. Following the late collapse of the purchase of USA World Cup star Folarin Balogun from Monaco, Moyes was left with a first-team squad of just 18 outfield players that contains of a solitary striker, left-back and right-back.
Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has questioned TFG’s limited spending on transfers at Everton, with the owners' approach raising eyebrows. He told the ECHO this week: "While Everton have had to adjust to the last years of PSR and the introduction of SCR, there’s no doubt that the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium has given the club more flexibility in theory.
"It’s a bit like having an extension to the overdraft on your credit card limit in terms of the amount of money available to the club to spend on recruiting. That clearly has not manifested itself in a way which has pleased fans. The move from Goodison, which was an emotional wrench, has been a disappointment in some aspects, because they thought the upshot would be the ability to invest in the squad and that hasn’t happened.
"Ultimately, The Friedkin Group are American sports franchise investors and investors, by definition, are looking for a return on their investment. Perhaps running the club as a solid enterprise in the Premier League, getting a couple of years of improved revenues and using that for the basis of a sale could form part of a broader strategy.
"If that is the case, then does it mean that the transfer budget is dictated to by non-football reasons rather than footballing ones in terms of not creating a significant transfer payables budget and transfer payables sum which might have to be dealt with on exit."
Everton, Roma and French club AS Cannes are the three major European football clubs owned by Friedkin, who acquired Roma from fellow American businessman James Pallotta in August 2020 in a deal worth $591m.
TFG are reportedly working on plans to launch an NHL franchise based in Houston, with the potential deal said to be worth around $3.5bn.
Ensure our latest news and what's on headlines always appear at the top of your Google search by making us a preferred source. Click here to activate or add us as a preferred source in your Google search settings.