Takeover Saga In Liverpool Nearing Its End: Roma Owner Friedkin Joins Everton

Premier League relegation candidate

At Everton FC, the months-long back and forth over the takeover of the club is coming to an end. On Monday, the Liverpool team announced an agreement with the Friedkin Group, which will take over the majority shareholding in the Toffees from Farhad Moshiri. The Iranian investor holds 94.1 percent of the Mersey club, while the Friedkins also own AS Roma in Serie A. The entrepreneurs addressed reassuring words to the fans where the main focus of the shareholders is to remain.

The aim was to “give stability” to the club and advance the “vision for the future”, which includes the completion of the new Everton Stadium, according to the new owners. After 132 years at Goodison Park, Everton will have a new home next season. The “Everton Stadium” at Bramley-Moore Dock will be the Toffees’ home ground from the 2025/26 season.

For Everton, however, the move could come at one of the most difficult times in the club’s history. Everton has never been relegated since the Premier League was founded in the 1992/93 season. However, the nine-time champion from the time before the Premier League was founded finished 15th, 17th and 16th in the last three championship rounds and did not score a single point in the first four games of the new season. On Saturday, against newly promoted Leicester City, who also had a bad start, they got their first point. The fact that nothing more could be gained makes it clear that Everton is once again in the relegation battle. Next Saturday they expect Crystal Palace, who are also winless, and so the next decisive game.

After the agreement, it is considered likely in England that the deal with the Friedkin Group will go through – even if it clears the regulatory hurdles. However, it may take months before it is completed. In Rome, shortly after the agreement was announced in Liverpool, the majority shareholders stressed that their commitment to AS would not suffer under the new conditions. “The possible inclusion of Everton in our portfolio does not change our focus on AS Roma. If anything, the symbiosis of several clubs will only help Roma. Each club in our portfolio operates independently, and AS Roma remains the heart of our football ambitions. Rest assured that our commitment of time, resources and energy to Roma will not diminish. Our goal is clear: AS Roma should consistently compete at the highest levels of European football,” says a statement from Dan and Ryan Friedkin on the Roma website.