The Friedkin Group said it is exploring options for a change in control at Everton, describing this moment as the right time to consider the club's "next chapter" after its new stadium was completed. The owner, which has retained Moelis & Company, also said the team's financial position has been stabilized. Friedkin took over in late 2024 following a long spell of uncertainty under former owner Farhad Moshiri. Bloomberg had previously reported that TFG retained Moelis & Company to assess potential investment options.
Since stepping in, Friedkin has reworked the club's borrowings and helped see through the relocation to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. That gives any future backer a modern ground with greater match-day and commercial upside. But keeping pace on the pitch would require substantial new money from whoever owns the club next. Independent researcher Paul Quinn estimates the group may need to put in more than £400 million to maintain competitiveness, while football adviser Tom Markham's analysis of the latest accounts pegs Everton's value at roughly £720 million.
Club ownership is increasingly a financial story rather than a sporting one. Market Briefs covers the business of sport free every weekday.
Valuations are a sticking point across European football, with sellers taking cues from a headline-grabbing minority deal at rival Liverpool. There, a group led by Amit Bhatia, with investors such as Jeff Bezos and Eduardo Saverin, agreed to purchase more than 30% at a valuation topping $6 billion. Advisers working on active sales say that transaction set a new high-water mark and has pushed some owners' price hopes beyond what club economics support.
The pricing puzzle shows up elsewhere too. Talks for Eight Sports Capital to acquire 24.99% of ENIC, the company that controls Tottenham Hotspur, have stalled. Spurs, like Everton, boast a cutting-edge stadium and strong commercial income, but long-running disputes over valuation have tripped up potential deals, especially when the buyer does not get control.
As for the seller here, The Friedkin Group counts itself among the largest independent distributors of Toyota vehicles and owns award-winning luxury resorts. Dan Friedkin is also a hobby pilot, and he bought Roma in 2020. The Italian club went on to win the Europa Conference League in 2022 under then-head coach Jose Mourinho.
If Everton changes hands, the headline price will reflect two powerful forces pulling in opposite directions: a shiny new stadium that can lift revenues, and heavy squad investment still required to win. For anyone watching football investments, that tension helps explain why deals can take time, wobble on valuation, and ultimately hinge on who is willing to fund the next few seasons, not just the purchase.
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