Everton confirm long-awaited takeover agreement with Roma owners
- Everton owner Farhad Moshiri agrees to sell stake to Friedkin Group
- Several takeover attemps collapsed before agreement finally reached
- Formal completion expected before end of calendar year
By Tom Gott
Everton have confirmed that a deal has been struck for The Friedkin Group, who own a majority share in Serie A giants AS Roma, to complete a takeover of the club.
The Toffees were put up for sale over 12 months ago by majority owner Farhad Moshiri, who has seen negotiations collapse with a number of parties, including 777 Partners, who had agreed the terms of a takeover but failed to finalise a deal before the deadline in June.
Now, The Friedkin Group have struck a deal to buy Moshiri's 94% stake in Everton, with formal approval expected to arrive before the end of the calendar year.
"Blue Heaven Holdings and The Friedkin Group confirm that they have reached agreement over the terms of the sale of Blue Heaven Holdings' majority stake in Everton Football Club," a statement read. "The transaction is subject to regulatory approval, including from the Premier League, the Football Association, and the Financial Conduct Authority."
A spokesperson for The Friedkin Group added: "We are pleased to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football club. We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction.
"We look forward to providing stability to the club, and sharing our vision for its future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock."