After just two years of ownership, Everton controlling owner The Friedkin Group are considering selling the club
Everton F.C. owner The Friedkin Group (TFG) is exploring a potential sale, as confirmed in a statement today by the Premier League (9 October).
TFG acquired the club from Farhad Moshiri in December 2024, who previously had a 94% controlling stake in the club. However, less than two years on, Everton are already contemplating a sale, as well as new investment options.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported TFG is only considering a sale of its controlling stake if the right buyer is identified. In its time, the ownership group believes it has re-established financial stability at Everton.
In the club statement, TFG prided itself on alleviating the “financial uncertainty” the club was facing both on-and-off the pitch.
“When TFG became custodians of Everton, the club faced significant financial uncertainty and challenges both on and off the pitch,” said the club statement.
“The immediate priority was to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure the club’s future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters.
“With that foundation now safely in place, the time is right to consider the next chapter for Everton. We will only entertain interest from parties who we strongly believe will be the right stewards to take the club forward and build on the momentum that has been established.”
Everton found itself in danger of relegation for the first time in the club’s history in the 2021/22 and 2022/23 seasons.
Everton also were found in breach of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules (PSR) on two separate occasions. The club was handed a six point deduction (after appealing an original 10 point deduction), as well as a two point deduction during the 2023/24 season.
The Merseyside club also had to pay Burnley F.C. £35m in damages after Burnley successfully claimed Everton’s PSR breach in the 2021/22 season impacted the club’s relegation that season.
The right time to sell Everton?
Everton’s performance on the pitch has improved since the return of Manager David Moyes in 2025, guiding the club to a 13th place finish last season in the first year at the club’s new stadium; the Hill-Dickinson Stadium.
However, last summer’s transfer window and TFG’s handling of player incomings and outgoings caused unrest among Everton fans.
The club sold over £100m worth of players, including star player Illiman N’Diaye for £65m to Manchester City. Everton brought in players such as Brennan Johnson, Hayden Hackney, as well as bringing back Jack Grealish on loan.
But the Everton Fan Advisory Board took issue with TFG’s recruitment policy after failing to sign a striker and right-back throughout the window, although Ainsley Maitland-Niles was brought in on deadline day.
The Everton Fan Advisory Board issued a statement on 2 September addressing concerns to TFG regarding the transfer strategy, highlighting the proposed sale of academy player Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest before the club pulled out of the transfer.
“The pattern is clear: reactive decisions, poor sequencing and unclear accountability have combined to damage supporter confidence at a critical moment for the club,” said the fan board in its statement.
“The FAB recognises the difficult squad situation inherited by the current ownership, and supporters understand the scale of the rebuild required. However, the club has repeatedly presented its recruitment operation as “world-class”; this window fell far short of that standard.
“The gap between ambition and execution is now impossible to ignore, and it has damaged confidence in the planning, leadership and alignment of football operations.”
