The Friedkin Group acquired a 98.8% stake in Everton.
The takeover of the Merseyside club through Roundhouse Capital Holdings Ltd finished after the Premier League and the Financial Conduct Authority granted regulatory approval. Dan Friedkin, the chairman of the Texas-based group, leads the ownership. Marc Watts, the president of the Friedkin Group, serves as the executive chairman and manages the club. This transaction ends the tenure of Farhad Moshiri, who held a 94.1% stake through Blue Heaven Holdings. TFG also owns the Italian Serie A club Roma and the French side AS Cannes. The group possesses annual revenues of £10 billion.
The deal follows a period of intense negotiation and previous attempts to secure the club. In July, the Friedkin Group withdrew from discussions because of concerns regarding debt and the 777 Partners loan. John Textor, the owner of Crystal Palace, also pursued the club before the Friedkin Group returned to the negotiating table in September. The new owners provided an immediate £200 million to the club. They also took over a £150 million loan from MSP Sports Capital.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Name | Hill Dickinson Stadium |
| Capacity | 52,888 |
| Location | Bramley-Moore Dock, Liverpool |
| Primary Contractor | Laing O’Rourke |
| Estimated Cost | £500 million to £750 million |
| Design Architects | Meis Architects and Pattern Design |
Financial restructuring and debt
The Friedkin Group is addressing the significant financial burdens left by the previous regime. Moshiri provided approximately £800 million to the club during his ownership, including £450 million in shareholder loans. The club lost £400 million between 2019 and 2023. Last year, the annual deficit reached £89 million. TFG’s takeover includes the conversion of existing short-term debt into equity and long-term senior debt. This change secures the debt against the new stadium and improves the financial standing of the club.
The club still faces substantial interest obligations. Rights and Media Funding is owed £225 million at an interest rate of 10.25%. TFG also lent £200 million to Moshiri to cover construction costs. A different loan from 777 Partners totals £200 million. The interest on the 777 debt is tied to A-Cap, a New York insurer that holds security on 777’s assets. Leadenhall Capital Partners filed a lawsuit in a New York district court against 777 and A-Cap. The lawsuit alleges fraud and "double-pledging" of assets.
The debt remains.
You already know the drama of the takeover.
The club needs to manage these payments. A-Cap has borrowed money at 18% interest. The club pays RMF an interest rate of five per cent over the base rate.
The Hill Dickinson Stadium
The new home for Everton is the Hill Dickinson Stadium. This stadium sits at Bramley-Moore Dock. The construction of the new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock required the filling of the dock basin with 480,000 cubic metres of sand dredged from the bottom of the Irish Sea to create a solid base for the foundations. Laing O’Rourke acted as the main contractor. The stadium reached structural completion in February 2024. The contractor handed the facility over in December 2024.
The stadium holds 52,888 spectators. This capacity reflects a slight reduction from the original maximum after reviews of seat configuration and media facility requirements. A 13,000-seater stand sits in the stadium and draws inspiration from the "Yellow Wall" at the Westfalenstadion. The facility uses modern technology to help fans. These tools include Self-Service ‘EBars’ and ‘ThroughPass’ technology from Amazon. The stadium also provides the ‘ALL’ experience, which provides social spaces like pubs, bars, and restaurants.
The club uses a partnership with Seat Unique to sell match-by-match access to lounge seating. This seating includes private TV monitors for replays. The stadium also provides a way for fans to leave a mark via The Dock Lines. This installation contains 36,000 personalised granite stones. Fans buy these stones for between £49 and £499. The installation sits on the Budweiser Fan Plaza.
Moving from Goodison Park
Everton is moving away from Goodison Park. The club occupied Goodison Park for nearly 134 years. The stadium had a capacity of 39,414. In 1990, the Taylor Report forced the stadium to become all-seater, which reduced the capacity from a peak of over 78,000. The club considered moving in 1996, but plans for a 60,000-seater stadium failed. In 2001, the club identified King’s Dock as a site, but funding issues stopped the project. The Kirkby project, which involved a 55,000-seat stadium, received rejection from the central government following a public inquiry.
The club also looked at Stanley Park in 2012, but that plan was cancelled. In 2017, Bill Kenwright named Bramley-Moore Dock as the preferred site. The club agreed to a 200-year lease with Peel Holdings in 2017. This lease allows for a 40-year sub-lease to the club. The development caused UNESCO to remove Liverpool from its list of World Heritage Sites in 2021. UNESCO stated the stadium had a major adverse impact on the authenticity of the site.
The transition is underway.
Matchday experiences and events
The stadium acts as a venue for more than football. In August 26, 2026, the stadium hosts a drive-in cinema event. This event, titled "Movies on the Mersey," screens films like Finding Nemo and Back to the Future. Tickets for the weekend cost £30 per vehicle. The stadium also hosts golf experiences. In July 2026, the club worked with Upper Deck Golf to host an interactive driving range. This event coincided with the Open Championship at Royal Birkdale.
The venue hosts international rugby too. Fiji Rugby planned a match against England at the stadium in July 2026. The fanzones for this match include traditional Fijian food and music. The stadium also attracts interest from the Women’s World Cup in 2035. The club aims to host various events to generate revenue throughout the year.
The club faces debt.
Footballing results and transfers
The 2025-26 football season concluded with Everton finishing in 13th place in the Premier League. The team earned 49 points. Highlights included a 3-0 home win against Chelsea and away victories against Manchester United and Aston Villa. The club sold Amadou Onana to Aston Villa for £50 million. The club also sold Lewis Dobbin and Ben Godfrey. The club refused a £45 million offer for Jarrad Branthwaite.
The women’s team played at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. They finished 8th in the Women’s Super League with 23 points. They secured a 4-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield. The women’s team also played their first match at the new stadium against Manchester United in October 2025.
Seamus Coleman retired after 17 years at the club. He made 434 appearances for the team. The club continues to invest in its Academy system.
The 777 debt complication
The legal issues surrounding 777 Partners create a difficult environment for the new owners. A-Cap holds control of 777’s assets. Leadenhall Capital Partners is suing both 777 and A-Cap in New York. Leadenhall claims 777 engaged in fraud through "double-pledging" assets. This involves using the same collateral for multiple loans.
The legal battle creates uncertainty for any potential buyer. If the US Department of Justice files criminal charges, it could create a Proceeds of Crime Act issue. TFG discussed indemnity insurance with Moshiri’s lawyers, but Moshiri declined. The interest rates on the debt remain high. A-Cap borrows money at 18% interest. This makes servicing the debt expensive for the club.
Will the club manage the high interest rates?
Historical stadium comparisons
Goodison Park stood in a different environment than the new dockside location. Goodison Park sat next to Victorian terraced housing. The new stadium is a massive steel and glass structure. The capacity at Goodison was limited by its location and construction methods. The new site at Bramley-Moore Dock uses reclaimed sand from the River Mersey to fill the basin.
The stadium design uses a mix of red brick and steel. The upper parts use metal and glass. The lower part uses a brick facade. This design attempts to blend with the industrial character of the area. The club uses the names Hill Dickinson Stadium to identify the venue. The club has now moved.
The club faces debt.
The takeover is complete.