Who Is The New Owner Of Everton F.C.

Everton Football Club, based in Liverpool, England, is one of the oldest football clubs, founded in 1878. The team plays in the Premier League, the top level of English football.

Everton was a founding member of both the Football League in 1888 and the Premier League in 1992. The club has won 24 major trophies, including nine league titles, five FA Cups, and a European Cup Winners’ Cup.

They’ve played at Goodison Park since 1892 and are known for their blue shirts and white shorts. Evertonians, as their fans are called, share a fierce rivalry with Liverpool in the Merseyside derby.

Everton F.C. Ownership History

Everton Football Club, originally known as St. Domingo FC, was founded in 1878. A year later, the club changed its name to Everton, taking inspiration from the local area in Liverpool where it was based.

In its early days, the team played at several locations, including a field in the southeast corner of Stanley Park. As more people came to watch their matches, it became clear that a better and larger ground was needed.

In 1884, Everton started playing at Anfield. At the time, Anfield was owned by John Orrell, a local brewer and builder, who happened to be friends with John Houlding, a key figure in the Everton committee.

Everton rented the ground for £100 a year, which allowed the club to set up better facilities, such as covered stands. This move attracted bigger crowds and helped Everton grow in popularity as professional football began to take shape.

A year later, in 1885, John Houlding bought the Anfield land from Orrell for £5,228. With legal costs, the total came to £6,000.

However, Houlding did not inform Everton’s committee about this purchase. Once he became the landlord, Houlding initially let the club stay under a rental agreement.

As Everton’s success grew, so did the rent. By 1890, the annual rent had risen to £250, a figure many within the club felt was too high.

Tensions began to rise between Houlding and the committee, particularly because Houlding wanted control over income from food and drinks sold during matches.

This created problems, as Houlding was both the landlord and the club’s president. Many saw this as a conflict of interest.

In January 1892, Houlding suggested forming a limited company to manage both Everton and Anfield. The club’s committee, led by George Mahon, rejected the idea, as they felt it would give too much power to a small group of wealthy people and take away the club’s democratic values.

The disagreements between Houlding and the committee continued to grow. By April 1892, Everton decided to leave Anfield. They played their last match there against Bolton Wanderers.

Soon after, the club moved to a new ground at Goodison Park. This move was a fresh start for Everton, but it also led to Houlding founding Liverpool Football Club.

Who Is The New Owner Of Everton F.C.?

The new owner of Everton Football Club is the Friedkin Group, a company that also owns the Italian football club A.S. Roma. This change happened after Everton and the Friedkin Group reached an agreement for the sale of the club.

However, the deal is still waiting for approval from important organizations, including the Premier League, the Football Association, and the Financial Conduct Authority.

If these groups approve, the Friedkin Group will officially take over. Farhad Moshiri was the previous majority owner of Everton.

He first bought a 49.9% share of the club in 2016 and later increased his ownership to 94.1%. During his time as owner, Moshiri invested heavily in the club, but Everton faced financial challenges and inconsistent performance on the pitch.

In recent years, Moshiri decided to sell his stake in the club to find new ownership that could better handle the financial demands and help improve the team’s future.

Before the deal with the Friedkin Group, Moshiri had entered talks with other buyers, including Miami-based 777 Partners. However, that deal fell apart in July 2024 due to issues related to debts and other complications.

Afterward, Everton and the Friedkin Group signed an exclusivity agreement in June 2024, signaling serious negotiations between the two parties.

By September 2024, both sides confirmed they had agreed on the terms of the sale. The Friedkin Group’s involvement in football shows they have experience running a sports team, which could be beneficial for Everton.

Fans of the club are now looking forward to seeing how this new ownership could impact Everton’s performance and stability in the future.

For now, Everton’s future rests on getting the required approvals to finalize the sale. If everything goes smoothly, the Friedkin Group will officially take control.

READ ALSO: Who Owns Fulham F.C.?

How Much Is Everton F.C. Worth?

Everton Football Club’s value has changed quite a bit in recent years. As of 2024, the club is estimated to be worth around €547 million (which is about £472.5 million).

This is a drop from the previous year, showing that the club has been facing some tough challenges. In 2023, Forbes valued Everton at around $744 million (about £600 million).

However, this high number has been under pressure, mainly due to the club’s struggles on the field and its financial losses.

Everton reported a massive loss of £89.1 million for the 2022-23 season, which was double the amount from the year before.

That said, the club’s value is affected by different factors. One of the main reasons is the team performance. Everton has had a difficult time in recent seasons, often just escaping relegation from the Premier League.

Poor performances can lead to fewer fans at matches, lower sponsorship deals, and less money coming into the club. This, in turn, hurts its value.

Another factor is the club’s debt. Everton has a large amount of debt, which makes investors nervous. There is some hope for the future, though, as Everton is working on building a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Once completed, this new stadium could boost the club’s matchday revenue significantly. The income from ticket sales, food, and merchandise could rise from around £20 million to £55 million each year.

Despite the financial struggles, there is still interest from investors. U.S. billionaire Dan Friedkin recently agreed to buy 94% of the club.

Ken Anucha

Kenneth is a an avid soccer follower, fan and writer. He is a consistent follower of the sport and is a fan of Chelsea FC.