Everton put up for sale as Friedkins’ possible exit divides supporters

Everton’s sale, announced this week, has revived suspicions among supporters who already doubted the Friedkins’ attachment to the club. The analysis says Dan Friedkin has never been seen at an Everton match, despite regularly visiting the UK to play golf. The 61-year-old Texan is said to have lost interest in the group’s investment in the club: « Dan just isn’t feeling it », people close to him reportedly said.

The Friedkin Group is said to have committed between £600 million and £700 million during its two years in control of Everton. It has also wiped the club’s debts, established the new stadium and kept the squad competitive. But, the analysis argues, the numbers did not justify continuing the investment. The prospect of an exit has not drawn criticism from everyone: some supporters might see it as a parting without bitterness if a suitable successor were found.

The suggested asking price is between £800 million and £1 billion. If the group found the right buyer and left with a profit of £100 million to £200 million, the analysis asks, why should Everton supporters hold that against it? Questions also remain over the resources committed to the squad. Some supporters could reject the suggestion that the group did the club a favour, given the perceived lack of investment in the playing staff.

The comparison with Roma helps explain the contrast. Over six years running Roma, the Friedkin Group is said to have invested around £800 million there — between £130 million and £150 million a year — compared with £300 million to £400 million a year at Everton over two years. During that six-year period, Roma won the Europa Conference League, reached another European final and regularly featured in the Champions League. Everton, meanwhile, struggled in the lower half of the Premier League table.

The analysis argues that the financial demands of the Premier League influenced Friedkin’s thinking about his long-term involvement at Everton. It also suggests that buying Farhad Moshiri’s majority shareholding two years ago may have been more a matter of convenience than a passionate desire to take over the club. The proposed message from Everton supporters is straightforward: thank the Friedkins and wish them well for the future.