The Friedkin Group (TFG) is currently seeking new investment options for Everton Football Club, with the ownership group confirming it is open to a potential sale of its controlling stake. This development arrives less than two years after TFG took charge of the club from Farhad Moshiri in December 2024. The Houston-based firm has appointed investment bank Moelis & Company to manage the process, though no specific timeline has been established for a deal. No timescale has been placed on a sale but TFG is confident of attracting a buyer quickly and potentially concluding a deal this season.
In a statement regarding the decision, TFG noted that its primary goal upon arriving at the club was to address significant financial uncertainty and stabilize operations. Since the acquisition, the group has invested approximately £400 million, a sum that covered the purchase and addressed the club’s considerable debt. Moshiri, by contrast, walked away with an initial payment of £25 million. TFG’s tenure has also seen the successful procurement of funding for the Hill Dickinson Stadium under improved terms.
The company is eyeing a potential valuation of around £800 million for a full sale, a figure that accounts for the club’s roughly £380 million in long-term debt. Such a deal would provide a significant return on their initial investment as a distressed asset. TFG emphasized that they remain committed to supporting the club’s success and ongoing community projects throughout the transition process, stating that they will only consider partners who represent the right long-term stewards for the team. In app, tap the Profile settings button at the top right, then select Notifications. Make sure you’re on the most recent version, if you already have app. Download it from the iOS App Store on iPhone or the Google Play store on Android by searching for ”, if you don’t have app. Investment and support needed to secure the club’s future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters, the immediate priority was to provide the stability. 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. We will support the club in all ways necessary to achieve success on the pitch and will continue efforts to make a positive difference in the communities the club serves.”.
Despite these assurances, the ownership’s long-term commitment has faced intense public scrutiny. This pressure mounted following a turbulent summer transfer window that saw the club pivot to a sell-to-buy policy. An attempt to sell Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest for £40 million triggered a fan backlash, though the club later offloaded Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65 million. Additionally, manager David Moyes, who returned in January 2025, revealed he has had no direct communication with TFG founder and club chair Dan Friedkin during his tenure.
Squad depth remains a major concern, as the team was left without sufficient reinforcements, particularly at center-forward, following the sale of Beto to Fiorentina and the collapse of a proposed £40 million deal for Monaco’s Folarin Balogun. While there are internal plans to address these roster deficiencies in January, any final decisions may now be subject to the complexities of a potential takeover.
Strategic shifts at the ownership level are also influenced by the challenges of multi-club management. TFG currently holds stakes in Roma and Cannes, and the company is concurrently preparing for the launch of a new Houston-based NHL franchise valued at roughly $3.5 billion (£2.6 billion). While TFG initially believed it could navigate UEFA regulations concerning multi-club ownership, stricter enforcement regarding potential European competition overlap has created regulatory hurdles, necessitating potential solutions like placing one club into a blind trust.
Ultimately, TFG views the current period as the right time to determine the next chapter for Everton. Having stabilized the club’s finances and completed the stadium project, they maintain that the institution is currently a much more attractive proposition for future investors than it was at the time of their original purchase.
