Friedkin Group eyes exit as Everton's owners contemplate sale

Inside the Merseyside headquarters, Marc Watts, executive chairman for the Friedkin Group, confirmed that the American owners are ready to put their majority stake in Everton up for sale, while the group pledges to keep supporting the Toffees until a deal is finalised.

Ownership background and financials

The Friedkin Group, which also owns Roma and AS Cannes, bought 99.5 per cent of Everton in a transaction thought to exceed £400million, ending Farhad Moshiri’s turbulent tenure. Their willingness to relinquish full control comes less than two years after the takeover, with Dan Friedkin sitting on the board of directors.

Everton have finished 13th in each of the two seasons since the acquisition, battling relegation despite an unbeaten start to the current campaign that sees them seventh with two wins and three draws from five matches.

Transfer activity and fan sentiment

Supporters have grown increasingly disgruntled after a summer window that saw the club spend over £70million on six permanent signings while selling more than £100million worth of players, the most notable being Iliman Ndiaye’s £60million move to Manchester City.

Friedkin consider selling Everton outright after taking 94% of shares

By contrast, Roma’s net spend this summer topped £85million after splurging in excess of £100million, whereas Everton recorded a £25million profit.

Despite limited new arrivals, David Moyes’ side have maintained an unbeaten run, positioning them in the top half of the Premier League.

The news of a potential sale arrives just two days before Everton travel to the MKM Stadium to face Hull City on Sunday at 2pm, with Moyes likely to assess the fitness of Vitaliy Mykolenko, Christian Norgaard and Merlin Rohl ahead of the match.