End of an Era: The Friedkin Group Completes Everton Takeover in Landmark Deal
LIVERPOOL, UK – Everton Football Club has officially entered a new chapter, announcing on Thursday, December 19, 2024, that the Friedkin Group (TFG) has completed its long-awaited acquisition of the Premier League club. The deal brings to a definitive close the tumultuous eight-year tenure of former majority shareholder Farhad Moshiri.
The takeover was executed via Roundhouse Capital Holdings Limited, an entity within the American consortium led by billionaire Dan Friedkin. The Friedkin Group secured a controlling stake of 98.8 percent in the Merseyside institution, a purchase reported by the BBC to be worth in excess of £400 million. Crucially, the deal has received all necessary regulatory clearances, including the stringent approval of the Premier League, the Football Association, and the Financial Conduct Authority.
Stability and a New Direction
The announcement was met with a mixture of relief and cautious optimism from the Everton fan base, who have endured years of financial uncertainty and on-field underperformance. TFG, which also owns Italian Serie A giants AS Roma, has immediately signaled its commitment to restoring stability.
In an official club statement, Marc Watts, the incoming Executive Chairman of Everton FC, expressed the group’s commitment. “Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for The Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club,” Watts stated. “Providing immediate financial stability to the Club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this. While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey.”
Friedkin, who has an estimated personal net worth of over £6 billion, is proposed to be the Chairman of the Everton Board. His group has already outlined key priorities: fortifying the first-team squad through “thoughtful and strategic investment” and maximizing the commercial potential of the club’s state-of-the-art new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which is slated to open next season.
The Moshiri Legacy
The completion of the sale concludes Farhad Moshiri’s eight years in charge, a period characterized by massive spending, managerial turnover, and recurrent brushes with relegation. Despite investing hundreds of millions into the club and financing the construction of the new £760 million stadium, Moshiri’s era ultimately failed to deliver the success he promised.
In his farewell statement, Moshiri said: “I truly believe that the transaction with The Friedkin Group is the best outcome for the Club and its future success. I now hand over to new owners confident in the outlook for the Club and that our incredible fans will see the success on the pitch that they so thoroughly deserve.”
The new era under the Friedkin Group promises a fresh start, financial discipline, and an emphasis on strategic growth as Everton looks to establish itself in the top tier of English football and make a successful transition to its new home. The American-led ownership group now shoulders the responsibility of honouring the club’s “proud legacy” and guiding the Toffees toward a more sustainable and competiti
ve future.
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