Everton owners open to full sale less than two years after takeover

Everton’s owners, The Friedkin Group, are willing to sell the club in full as they consider bringing in outside investment, according to The Athletic.

The US-based group had been seeking new investment in September, initially focusing on strategic partners who could help move the Premier League club forward by purchasing a minority stake. However, people familiar with the situation have said the sale of The Friedkin Group’s majority shareholding is also now under consideration.

The sources spoke anonymously to protect their relationships. They said The Friedkin Group would only agree to relinquish full control if it was convinced that a new owner or ownership group was the right choice to take Everton to the next level.

The Houston-based group is understood to be entirely comfortable retaining ownership and supporting the club for as long as necessary while waiting for a suitable buyer to emerge.

Although the owners are open to a sale less than two years after taking control, they believe they have stabilised Everton and made the club more attractive to potential buyers than it was at the time of the takeover.

The Friedkin Group bought Everton through its UK investment arm, Roundhouse Capital, in December 2024. It acquired Farhad Moshiri’s 94% stake, bringing an end to a prolonged period of uncertainty and financial difficulty under the former owner.

The takeover followed the collapse of discussions with several potential investors, including 777, MSP Sports Capital and the Kam Group.

Since completing the purchase, The Friedkin Group has restructured most of Everton’s high-interest debt and agreed lower-interest loans secured against the club’s new Hill Dickinson stadium. It has also attracted investment into Roundhouse, with former Dallas Mavericks coach Jason Kidd and US billionaire Christopher Sarofim both acquiring minority stakes last year.

Transfer window criticism

Initial reports that The Friedkin Group was looking for investment emerged after a difficult and widely criticised summer transfer window for Everton.

The club sold talent worth £100m during the summer and made a profit of about £25m in the transfer market. Its only addition on deadline day was right-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles, signed from Lyon for €5m.

Everton also saw a late move for Monaco and United States men’s national team striker Folarin Balogun collapse. The proposed deal was worth £45m, but the player withdrew from completing the move in the final moments.

Supporters further protested against the potential sale of academy graduate Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest for £40m. Everton ultimately pulled out of the transfer before the midfielder travelled for a medical.

Alongside Everton, The Friedkin Group owns Italian club Roma and French club Caen. It is also working to launch a new National Hockey League team based in Houston, with the potential deal valued at about $3.5bn.