Everton owners Friedkin Group explore sale after two years

Everton's owners, the Friedkin Group, have said they are exploring a sale of the Premier League club, less than two years after completing their takeover. The American consortium, which also owns Italian side AS Roma, announced the move this morning, bringing fresh uncertainty to a club that has spent years seeking stability.

The takeover was completed in 2024 for a reported £400 million. Since then, Everton have moved from Goodison Park to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium. In a statement, the club said its immediate priority had been to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure Everton's future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for supporters. It added that with that foundation now safely in place, the time was right to consider the next chapter for Everton.

On the pitch, Everton have recorded two consecutive mid-table finishes. Off it, the ownership has faced criticism. The Friedkin Group's net investment in players was just over €100 million, according to the report. But the owners also sold some of the club's best players and made a profit of €30 million, frustrating supporters who wanted more signings. The club's finances have been described as steady, and the new stadium gives it a modern home.

Supporters reacted with shock and little enthusiasm for the ownership's record. One fan said the news helped explain a quiet transfer window. Another argued the group had been more concerned with Roma than Everton. 'They seem to be more concerned about Roma than Everton. That's the problem with a company having two clubs,' one supporter said. Another said: 'I think they were trying to make some quick money.' A third struck a more resigned note: 'Honestly, I think it goes to the right people if it does get sold.'

It has also been reported that the Friedkin Group had never attended an Everton match. That detail may add to the sense of distance between the owners and the club's support. Still, the report noted that Everton now have a new stadium, two mid-table finishes and steadier finances. The ownership period might have been short, but it may prove to be sweet if a sale delivers credible new owners.

No buyer has been named and no sale price has been reported. The club's statement did not set out a timetable. Everton's immediate future remains uncertain, with the Friedkin Group now open to offers after completing the task it said it had set out to do.