Everton up for sale again - so what next as owners TFG look for a way out?

Key points

• The Friedkin Group, which bought 99.5% of Everton for over £400m in December 2024, is now looking to sell the club.
• Football finance expert Kieran Maguire expects an asking price of £750m to £800m, with Everton carrying about £468m in debt.
• Manager David Moyes only learned of the sale from the media and said he was disappointed for Evertonians.

Everton's owners, The Friedkin Group (TFG), announced on Friday morning that they are effectively putting the Premier League club up for sale. TFG, which also owns AS Roma in Italy's Serie A, paid more than £400m for a 99.5% share of Everton in December 2024, ending Farhad Moshiri's chaotic regime.

Football finance expert Kieran Maguire told BBC Sport he expects a complete sale to fetch between £750m and £800m, with buyers also taking on around £468m in current debts. TFG's tenure has been marked by its focus on Roma and a lack of engagement with Everton.

Transfer window fallout

The relationship between Everton's fans and TFG turned toxic after a botched summer transfer window. TFG attempted to sell academy product Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest for £40m, but the deal was blocked after news leaked and fans threatened "a riot" during a game at Bournemouth.

Everton then sold Iliman Ndiaye to Manchester City for £65m and Beto to Fiorentina, while a move for Monaco's Folarin Balogun collapsed. Moyes was left with only 18 senior outfield players and no recognised striker.

I'm disappointed that Evertonians have to go through another period of 'who are our owners?'

— David Moyes

What Maguire said

Maguire said TFG was likely shocked by having to pay Burnley more than £35m for a breach of financial rules. In 2024, Everton were found to have broken Premier League Profit and Sustainability Rules over a three-year period, and Burnley sought compensation for relegation losses. TFG injected £38m to cover the cost, and Everton have appealed.

Maguire added that English football's litigious nature may have surprised TFG. He also said it is a good time to sell due to a buoyant market and the scarcity of Premier League clubs, expecting American buyers to be interested. He described Everton as an attractive "oven ready" club with history, a passionate fanbase and a 50,000-plus stadium.