Everton Football Club may finally be on the cusp of brighter days as the Friedkin Group looks set to acquire Farhad Moshiri’s majority 94% stake in the club. This significant development is being hailed as a potential turning point for the Toffees after years of instability and financial troubles. With the ownership change anticipated within the next two to three months, Everton fans are cautiously optimistic that the club’s fortunes might soon be on the up.
Moshiri’s tenure, which began in 2016, promised much but delivered little. Despite substantial investments, Everton languished at the wrong end of the Premier League table, with managerial changes and financial mismanagement casting a long shadow over his ownership. The discontent reached a peak with fan protests and even saw Moshiri and some board members distancing themselves from Goodison Park in recent times.
The involvement of the Friedkin Group, who also own Italian club AS Roma, has sparked hope among supporters. The group, led by Dan Friedkin, has already made a name for itself in the footballing world by investing significantly in Roma, culminating in a Europa Conference League victory under José Mourinho in 2022. The hope is that this experience, combined with their financial clout, can bring similar success to Everton.
Former Everton captain Alan Stubbs expressed cautious optimism, telling BBC Radio Merseyside, “It is great news for the football club. Dan Friedkin brings a wealth of experience from the footballing side, but I am trying not to get too excited. We have been rudderless and going nowhere off the pitch for far too long.”
The road to this acquisition has not been straightforward. Last year, the Miami-based investment firm 777 Partners agreed to purchase the club, but the deal fell through due to their inability to pass the Premier League’s stringent owners’ and directors’ test. The Friedkin Group is expected to clear these hurdles without such complications, providing the stability and direction that Everton has sorely lacked.
However, there are concerns among the fanbase regarding the Friedkin Group’s understanding of English football culture. Their low-profile approach at Roma, which saw them sack popular managers without much fan engagement, has raised eyebrows. The passionate Everton supporters, who have been starved of silverware since 1995, will demand an ownership that not only invests but also connects with the community and respects the club’s heritage.
For the Toffees, the immediate focus is survival in the Premier League. With the team currently joint-bottom of the table, the spectre of relegation looms large. The Friedkin Group’s first task will be to stabilise the club on and off the pitch and then lay out a clear vision for the future.
Everton’s imminent move to a new stadium at Bramley Moore-Dock next season is another key element in their revival plans. The state-of-the-art venue, with a capacity of nearly 53,000, promises to significantly boost the club’s revenue streams, providing the financial muscle needed to compete at the top level.
Manager Sean Dyche, who has worked under challenging circumstances since taking over, is said to have his job secured for now. However, new ownership often brings managerial changes, and with just a year left on his contract, Dyche will need to prove he is the man to lead Everton into this new era.
Julie Clarke, secretary of the fans’ advisory board, captured the collective sigh of relief felt by many Evertonians: “It will be lovely to just be able to enjoy football again.” For a club that has been bogged down in boardroom dramas and financial worries, a return to focusing on the beautiful game would be a welcome change.
As the deal edges closer to completion, all eyes will be on the Friedkin Group to see if they can indeed steer Everton towards a successful future. The road ahead is uncertain, but for the first time in a long while, the Toffees might finally be moving in the right direction. For more details on Everton’s ownership and future plans, you can visit the official Everton website.
For more updates on Everton’s ownership saga and further insights into the club’s journey, visit EyeOnLondon.
