- Dan Friedkin shared a statement announcing the news on Thursday morning
- Representatives from the group will watch Everton face Chelsea on Sunday
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Everton fans have been handed an early Christmas present as their long-running saga to find new owners was finally resolved on Thursday morning.
The Friedkin Group have been officially announced as the new custodians of the club – with stability said to be the key message the Texas-based billionaires want to give to fans.
Dan Friedkin, the stunt pilot and aviation expert worth £4.8bn, will lead the new empire and has appointed Marc Watts as executive chairman, with Ana Dunkel set to join the board as financial director. Colin Chong will continue in his role as interim chief executive officer.
Friedkin said: ‘Dear Evertonians, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support.
I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, The Friedkin Group.
‘Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution. The Friedkin Group is a diverse family of companies with a global footprint spanning industries such as sports, automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and adventure.
The Friedkin Group, led by Dan Friedkin, have been confirmed as Everton’s new owners (Roma president Dan Friedkin pictured)
The takeover will usher in a new era at Everton following Farhad Moshiri disastrous spell
‘Across all our endeavours, we strive to deliver extraordinary experiences that ignite people’s passions. We are thrilled to bring this ethos to Everton and the Liverpool City Region.
‘Whilst we are new to the club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world. We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city.’
Moshiri shared his own statement as the news was confirmed, stating that the new owners represented ‘the best outcome’ after years of takeover speculation.
‘I truly believe that the transaction with The Friedkin Group is the best outcome for the Club and its future success,’ His statement read. ‘There has been a huge team effort in getting to this stage and I would like to personally thank my Board colleagues John Spellman and Colin Chong and all the senior management team including Katie, James, Richard and of course Kevin and Sean for their huge commitment to the Club.
‘Despite a challenging geopolitical backdrop, a significant amount has been achieved over the last couple of years including the delivery of a new sporting department, the stabilisation of our finances and the delivery of our iconic new stadium.
‘I now hand over to new owners confident in the outlook for the Club and that our incredible fans will see the success on the pitch that they so thoroughly deserve.
It is understood the Friedkins have made a significant conversion of Everton’s debt to equity and a fresh injection of cash – separate to any loans – has taken place.
In his farewell statement, Moshiri talked up the club’s investment in an ‘iconic’ new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock
The new owners are keen to stress they want stability and Watts has laid out six key goals: strengthen the men’s squad through ‘thoughtful and strategic investment’; cultivate home-grown academy stars; foster a distinct on-pitch and commercial strategy for the women’s team; respect the club’s traditions and keep Everton at the heart of the community; maximise the potential of the new stadium’s commercial partnership and; enhance the club’s reputation as a unique and historical worldwide name.
The Friedkins will back manager Sean Dyche and director of football Kevin Thelwell, with no radical changes in either department forecast.
Representatives of the group are expected to be at the Toffees’ clash with title-chasing Chelsea on Sunday.