The Friedkin Group has officially secured a deal to acquire Farhad Moshiri's majority 94% stake in Everton Football Club. The transaction, reportedly valued at over £400 million, is pending approval from regulatory bodies, including the Premier League, Football Association, and Financial Conduct Authority.
The acquisition marks the end of Moshiri’s ownership of the club, a period during which he invested more than £750 million since 2016. Despite the significant financial outlay, Moshiri faced widespread discontent among supporters due to the club's recent struggles, including three consecutive seasons finishing in the bottom half of the Premier League.
With this purchase, Everton would join the growing list of Premier League clubs under majority American ownership, becoming the 10th in the league to do so.
A spokesperson for the Friedkin Group commented, "We are excited to move forward as custodians of this iconic football club and look forward to providing stability and continuing the development of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock."
Farhad Moshiri’s reign at Everton has been marred by difficulties both on and off the pitch. Despite initially purchasing a 49.9% stake in the club in 2016, followed by an increased 94.1% stake in 2022, Moshiri’s tenure has been defined by instability. Throughout his time as owner, Everton cycled through eight permanent managers and struggled to escape the bottom half of the Premier League standings.
The club's financial woes were exacerbated following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, when Everton suspended sponsorship agreements with USM Holdings, a company connected to Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov. This, combined with financial losses that led to Premier League penalties, further darkened Moshiri's tenure.
In recent months, Moshiri’s efforts to sell the club saw a proposed deal with 777 Partners fall through, leaving the door open for the Friedkin Group to step in.
The Texas-based Friedkin Group, led by chairman Dan Friedkin, has already established itself in European football with ownership of Italian side AS Roma, which it acquired in 2020. Under their stewardship, Roma won the UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022 under manager José Mourinho.
Now, with Everton on the horizon, the Friedkin Group aims to create a multi-club model that sees both Everton and Roma thrive independently while benefiting from shared synergies.
Friedkin Group stated their commitment to completing the new Everton stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, emphasising the club's history, passionate fanbase, and its infrastructure projects as key factors in their decision to pursue the acquisition.
Dan Friedkin, who is reportedly worth £5.7 billion according to Forbes, remains committed to Roma as well. "The addition of Everton will not detract from our focus on AS Roma. We see potential for a mutually beneficial relationship between the clubs," he explained, stressing the importance of operating each club independently under UEFA rules.
The takeover is subject to approval from the Premier League, Football Association, and Financial Conduct Authority. Should the deal go through, the Friedkin Group will assume full control of Everton from Moshiri, including the conversion of a £200 million loan it previously provided into equity.
The club's future under new ownership is expected to focus on rebuilding both on and off the field, with hopes of restoring Everton’s standing in the Premier League after recent seasons of financial penalties, management changes, and disappointing results.
Everton currently sits near the bottom of the Premier League, with just one point from their opening five games under manager Sean Dyche. The transition in ownership is expected to bring renewed stability and direction as the club embarks on this new chapter.
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