According to iNews, Farhad Moshiri has reached an agreement in principle to sell his majority stake in Everton to Dan Friedkin.
The newspaper reported on Saturday (15 June, page 95) that Moshiri is expected to “imminently” grant exclusivity to US billionaire Dan Friedkin, who also owns AS Roma.
It is understood that Moshiri had four other serious offers for his 94 percent shareholding in Everton, but Friedkin made an all-equity offer to add the Merseyside club to his ownership group. iNews adds that Friedkin is unlikely to encounter any problems passing the Premier League’s owners and directors test.
Everton’s potential takeover takes a major step in the right direction. From the uncertainty surrounding 777 Partners to a US billionaire who has successfully managed one of Italy’s biggest clubs for four years, this shift offers promise. While Roma hasn’t finished above sixth in Serie A under Friedkin’s tenure, they have won the UEFA Conference League, reached the Europa League semi-finals twice, and were runners-up in 2022/23 after losing to Sevilla on penalties. Friedkin’s ownership has also attracted players like Romelu Lukaku, Paulo Dybala, Andrea Belotti, and Tammy Abraham.
Everton has faced significant challenges in recent years, and the prospect of a 777 Partners takeover was concerning. Fortunately, that deal seemed doomed from the start, and Sean Dyche managed to keep the Blues in the Premier League despite two points deductions.
While Friedkin won’t be able to immediately inject large sums into the first team due to financial constraints, it appears that the club’s long-term future will be more secure under his ownership.
Leave a Reply