Everton Owners Explore Sale Less Than Two Years After Takeover

The Friedkin Group is considering selling a controlling stake in Everton after helping stabilise the club financially and oversee its move to a new stadium. However, tensions with supporters and concerns over the club’s transfer policy have raised questions about the owners’ short tenure.

Everton’s American owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), are exploring options for selling the Premier League club less than two years after completing their takeover in 2024. The group, led by chairman Dan Friedkin, confirmed that it is considering new investment opportunities, including the potential sale of a controlling interest. The original takeover was reportedly worth more than £400 million.

In a statement, TFG said its initial priorities had been to provide financial stability, support the club on and off the pitch, and help secure the future of Everton’s new stadium. With those foundations now in place, the owners believe the time has come to consider the club’s next chapter. They added that any potential buyer would need to demonstrate the ability to take Everton forward, while pledging to continue supporting the club throughout the process.

Growing frustration over ownership and transfer decisions

Despite the financial stabilisation achieved under TFG, relations between the ownership and Everton supporters have deteriorated in recent months. One of the main flashpoints came during the summer transfer window, when Everton accepted a reported £40 million offer from Nottingham Forest for highly rated England Under-19 midfielder Harrison Armstrong.

The proposed transfer triggered an angry reaction from fans, although Everton eventually withdrew from the deal. Supporters were also frustrated by the subsequent sale of striker Beto to Fiorentina. The departure left manager David Moyes with French forward Thierno Barry, 23, as the club’s only recognised striker, intensifying concerns about the squad’s depth and the club’s ambitions.

Everton’s cautious approach to recruitment also came under scrutiny following the £65 million departure of Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City. According to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty, the combination of these decisions contributed to the perception that TFG were showing limited ambition in the transfer market. A difficult deadline day reportedly left Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players available.

Questions over Dan Friedkin’s involvement

Concerns about the owners’ relationship with the club’s management have added to the frustration. In September, Moyes revealed that he had never met or spoken to Friedkin since returning as Everton manager in January 2025. The American businessman, who is based in Houston, has not attended an Everton match since Moyes’ reappointment, according to the BBC.

Friedkin has delegated much of the club’s day-to-day running to his son-in-law, Rishi Majithia, who works alongside chief executive Angus Kinnear. The arrangement has fuelled criticism from supporters who believe the owners have been too distant from the club’s immediate sporting concerns.

The situation contrasts with TFG’s approach to AS Roma, the Italian club it also owns. Roma benefit from the additional revenue associated with competing in the Champions League, allowing for a different financial context. Everton, meanwhile, have been working to establish a more secure footing after years of financial uncertainty under former owner Farhad Moshiri.

Financial stability and a new stadium

TFG took control of 99.5% of Everton in 2024, succeeding Moshiri after the club had experienced a serious financial crisis. Since then, the owners have helped put Everton on a more stable financial footing. The club has also moved into its new Hill Dickinson Stadium, although much of the project had effectively been completed before the takeover.

These developments could make Everton a more attractive proposition for prospective investors. McNulty described TFG’s tenure as unspectacular, arguing that financial stabilisation and the stadium move were its principal achievements, while the recent transfer controversies damaged relations with supporters.

Former Everton goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis said the potential sale had come as a surprise. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast, she acknowledged the progress made in stabilising the club and highlighted the commercial revenue the new stadium could generate.

Brown-Finnis also stressed the importance of choosing the next owners carefully, saying Everton supporters had endured too long a period of financial uncertainty. She hopes any incoming ownership will be committed to driving the club forward.

What happens next for Everton?

TFG has not announced a completed sale or identified a buyer. Its statement said it would consider interest only from parties it believes would be suitable custodians of the club. The group also pledged to continue providing the support needed to help Everton succeed on the pitch and contribute positively to the communities the club serves.

Everton are currently seventh in the Premier League after seven matches, but the potential ownership change raises fresh questions about the club’s long-term direction. Having helped restore financial stability, TFG may now seek to hand control to investors prepared to provide the resources and sporting ambition supporters expect.

For Everton fans, the priority will be ensuring that the next chapter delivers more than financial security: they will want an ownership group capable of building a competitive team and restoring confidence in the club’s future.