Everton takeover by The Friedkin Group confirmed
19 December 2024 10:00am GMT
The Everton takeover saga is finally at an end after the club announced it had been bought by the Friedkin Group.
More than a year after Farhad Moshiri first announced he was selling his 94.1 per cent stake and following the collapse of talks with several other potential suitors – most notoriously 777 Partners – the Premier League side confirmed they were now under new ownership.
Everton said they had been acquired by Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited (Roundhouse), an entity within The Friedkin Group (TFG), following the necessary regulatory approvals from the Premier League, Women’s Professional Leagues Limited, the Football Association, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Dan Friedkin, chairman and chief executive of TFG – which also owns Roma – said in a statement: “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.”
Watts added in an open letter: “Dear Evertonians, we are proud to be the new custodians of your club. Together, we will usher Everton into a new era, one that is marked by ambition and professionalism. As stewards of Everton, we look forward to showing our commitment to the club through actions, not words.
“We believe there are exceptional people working in the club. The resilience and commitment shown to get through a challenging period in Everton’s history has been inspiring to see and provides a great foundation for us to build on. The Friedkin Group will take a focused approach, one that is driven by innovation and business experience.
“Our long-term vision is to harness the passion of fans and great qualities of the club to realise Everton’s full potential. Our goals are clear: Strengthening the men’s first-team squad through thoughtful and strategic investment. Cultivating home-grown superstars through Everton’s Academy. Fostering a distinct on-pitch and commercial strategy for the women’s team. Respecting the club’s traditions and keeping Everton at the heart of the community. Maximising the potential of the new stadium through long-term commercial partnerships and events that benefit the city of Liverpool. Enhancing Everton’s reputation as a unique and historical name in world football.
“In the short term, we understand the club has faced significant challenges on and off-the-pitch for several years. That’s why our immediate priority is stabilising the club and improving results on the pitch. We have provided an injection of capital to ensure the completion of the new stadium. The transaction has seen most of Everton’s debt either converted to equity, repaid or refinanced on terms more favourable to the stability of the club.