Everton and Burnley Join the Multi-Club Movement

Two Premier League clubs, Everton and Burnley, are exploring the realm of multi-club ownership as global football increasingly adopts investment models across multiple teams.

The Friedkin Group, led by US billionaire Dan Friedkin, has launched Pursuit Sports, a multi-club ownership platform to oversee its growing portfolio. This new platform brings together the group’s existing clubs, including Premier League side Everton, Serie A giants AS Roma and French third-tier team AS Cannes, consolidating their operations under one unified structure. The Friedkin Group acquired Everton from Farhad Moshiri in late 2024, positioning the Merseyside club as a flagship English asset within the ambitious Pursuit Sports network.

Dave Beeston, CEO of Pursuit Sports, articulated the group’s vision: “We aim to unify leadership across our clubs and create a centralised ecosystem that supports sporting excellence and commercial growth.” This structure is designed to leverage shared resources, data, technology and talent identification, while preserving each club’s individual culture and competitive identity. The model also allows for scalable commercial opportunities, potentially providing Everton with increased access to international scouting networks and player development systems.

Meanwhile, Burnley’s ownership group, ALK Capital, is exploring a stake in Spanish side Espanyol. This proposed investment would mark ALK’s first venture into European football since its 2020 takeover of Burnley and its later acquisition of Major League Soccer’s Real Salt Lake. If approved, the deal would give Burnley a foothold in La Liga and a direct connection to the Spanish talent market.

This move follows Burnley’s relegation from the Premier League and appears to be aimed at providing long-term structural benefits by integrating scouting, youth development, and football operations across multiple clubs. While the Espanyol deal is yet to be finalised, it indicates ALK’s intention to expand its influence through a sustainable multi-club strategy.

Everton and Burnley now join a growing list of English clubs that are embracing multi-club models, following the examples of Manchester City, which is part of the City Football Group, as well as Brighton and Aston Villa. UEFA regulations require separate governance and financial oversight for affiliated clubs; however, as long as these conditions are met, the structure offers competitive advantages, including cross-club talent movement and broader global branding.