David Moyes breaks silence after Everton sale announcement 2026

Key Points

• However, The Friedkin Group (TFG) who are the owners of Everton, have revealed their intent to explore other possibilities for investments for the team, which could involve selling their stake in the club.
• This revelation was made on Friday, 9 October 2026, almost two years after TFG purchased Everton in December 2024.
• TFG purchased the 94.1 per cent stake in Everton held by Farhad Moshiri through Roundhouse Capital.
• The Everton boss David Moyes says he was taken aback by the development and learnt of it on Friday morning.
• Moyes revealed that most people thought TFG would stay at Everton for the “next 20-30 years,” adding that there were hints during the summer transfer window.
• TFG has stated that they will only consider approaches from those they believe would be suitable custodians of Everton.
• The owners of the club have said that their main priority for now is helping Everton in their sporting activities and in the community they serve.
• They acquired the club when it was undergoing financial instability and orchestrated their move from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Everton (Liverpool standard) October 09, 2026 – Everton have been placed in a state of ownership uncertainty after The Friedkin Group confirmed it is exploring new investment options for the club, including a potential sale of a controlling interest.

The announcement, released on Friday morning, confirmed that TFG is open to selling the club should suitable future custodians emerge. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Everton stated:

“The Friedkin Group is exploring new investment options for Everton Football Club, including the potential sale of a controlling interest.”

The statement did not name any prospective buyers, disclose a valuation, or provide a timetable for a transaction. It also made clear that TFG and the club would not comment further while the process was under way, as reported by ESPN.

TFG’s decision comes less than two years after the American group completed its purchase of Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in December 2024. The takeover ended a prolonged period of instability at Goodison Park and preceded Everton’s relocation to the new Hill Dickinson Stadium.

Why has David Moyes spoken about the sale?

Everton manager David Moyes has broken his silence on the development, saying he was surprised when the news became public. As reported by the Liverpool Echo, Moyes said he only learned of the announcement on Friday morning.

“I was surprised because they’d only come in a year-and-a-half ago,”

Moyes said.

The Scot added that he had expected TFG’s ownership to last much longer. “I think most of us expected them to be here for the next 20-30 years,” he said.

Moyes also suggested that events during the transfer window may have indicated a change in direction. “But maybe after what happened in the transfer window, I think we’d seen through that,” he said, according to the Liverpool Echo.

TalkSPORT reported that Moyes described himself as “pretty surprised” after Everton were publicly put up for sale on Friday.

What did Moyes say about Everton supporters?

Moyes expressed concern for Everton supporters, saying they had already endured a difficult period before the latest ownership announcement.

“It’s for Evertonians that I’m more disappointed because they’ve been through so much difficult periods,” Moyes said, as quoted by the Liverpool Echo. “The last thing they wanted to hear was this.”

His comments reflect the uncertainty surrounding the club after years of financial pressure, managerial changes and a protracted move away from Goodison Park. Moyes returned to Everton as manager in January 2025, having previously spent more than a decade at the club earlier in his career.

The manager’s remarks also follow his earlier disclosure that he had not had direct contact with TFG’s principal owner. As reported by the BBC, Moyes said in September that he had never met or spoken to Dan Friedkin, the Houston-based chief executive of The Friedkin Group, since returning to Everton.

What did The Friedkin Group say?

In its statement, TFG said Everton had faced “significant financial uncertainty and challenges both on and off the pitch” when the group became the club’s custodians.

“The immediate priority was to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure the club’s future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters,” the statement said.

TFG added that, with that foundation now in place, it believed the time was right to consider Everton’s next chapter.

“With that foundation now safely in place, the time is right to consider the next chapter for Everton,” the statement said.

The group also set out a condition for any potential sale. “We will only entertain interest from parties who we strongly believe will be the right stewards to take the club forward and build on the momentum that has been established,” TFG said.

TFG said its focus would remain unchanged during the process. “Throughout this process, TFG’s focus will remain unchanged. We will support the club in all ways necessary to achieve success on the pitch and will continue efforts to make a positive difference in the communities the club serves,” the statement added.

How long have The Friedkin Group owned Everton?

TFG completed its takeover of Everton in December 2024, acquiring Farhad Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake through Roundhouse Capital. The deal followed a period in which Everton had faced significant financial challenges and uncertainty over its future.

As reported by The Athletic, TFG’s arrival followed financial measures that included a private placement transaction organised by JP Morgan, which raised about £350m, alongside a revolving credit facility. The publication also reported that TFG provided funding through equity investments via share issues.

TFG’s tenure has included the completion of Everton’s move from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The group also appointed David Moyes as manager in January 2025, shortly after Sean Dyche’s departure.

Despite the relative brevity of TFG’s ownership, the group’s statement presented the sale exploration as a continuation of its efforts to secure Everton’s long-term future rather than an immediate withdrawal from the club.

What was reported before the sale announcement?

The confirmation came after earlier reports suggested TFG was seeking fresh investment at Everton. The Athletic reported in September that the club’s American owner was seeking new investment, most likely with a view to selling a minority stake.

The publication reported that sources had suggested TFG’s preferred plan was to find a junior partner to share the financial burden of restoring Everton’s competitiveness. However, The Athletic also reported that other sources believed TFG was looking for an exit, potentially through a two-step process in which new custodians would initially arrive as minority partners.

Friday’s announcement confirmed that TFG is now openly considering the sale of a controlling interest, although it stopped short of confirming that a sale will definitely take place.

Sky Sports reported that TFG said “the time is right” for Everton’s next chapter and reiterated that it would only entertain interest from parties it believed would be the right stewards for the club.

What does the announcement mean for Everton now?

The announcement leaves Everton in a period of ownership review, with TFG continuing to run the club while assessing investment and potential sale options. No buyer has been identified publicly, and no agreement has been announced.

TFG’s language indicates that it is not committing to an immediate sale. The group said it would support Everton “in all ways necessary” during the process and would continue work to make a positive difference in the communities the club serves.

For Moyes and his squad, the immediate footballing position remains unchanged. The Independent reported that the announcement came during a strong start to the Premier League campaign under Moyes, with Everton unbeaten in their opening five matches and sitting seventh in the table.

However, the prospect of a change in controlling ownership could become a major issue for the club’s planning, particularly if a prospective buyer seeks to reshape Everton’s football and commercial operations.

Background of the development

Everton’s ownership situation has been turbulent for several years before TFG’s arrival. Farhad Moshiri’s period as majority owner coincided with financial difficulties, managerial changes and concerns over the club’s compliance with Premier League financial regulations.

TFG completed its purchase of Moshiri’s 94.1 per cent stake in December 2024, with the deal conducted through Roundhouse Capital. The group, led by Dan Friedkin, took control at a time when Everton required stability and investment both on and off the pitch.

One of TFG’s most significant early achievements was helping to complete the long-delayed move from Goodison Park to the Hill Dickinson Stadium. The new ground marked a major change for Everton supporters after decades at Goodison Park.

Moyes returned as manager in January 2025, replacing Sean Dyche. The Athletic reported that Moyes was viewed by TFG as an experienced figure who could help stabilise the club and avoid relegation.

Despite that stability, questions over the relationship between the ownership group and the football operation emerged. In September, Moyes told the BBC that he had never met or spoken to Dan Friedkin since returning to the club. Friedkin had also not attended a home game since completing the takeover, according to the BBC.

The latest development follows reports of tension around Everton’s summer transfer business. Yahoo Sport reported that a fracture developed between TFG and parts of Everton’s fanbase over a controversial attempt to sell teenager Harrison Armstrong late in the transfer window. The same report said a difficult deadline day left Moyes with only 18 senior outfield players.

How could this affect Everton supporters?

For Everton supporters, the announcement is likely to create uncertainty about who will control the club in the coming months and years. TFG has said it will only sell to a buyer it considers a suitable steward, but supporters will want clarity on the identity, finances and long-term plans of any prospective owner.

The development could affect supporter confidence because Everton fans have already experienced a prolonged period of instability, including financial pressure, relegation battles and the eventual move from Goodison Park. Moyes himself said the news was the last thing supporters wanted to hear after the difficult periods they had endured.

On the pitch, the immediate impact may be limited while TFG remains in control. The group has said it will continue to support the club during the process, and Everton’s strong start to the Premier League season under Moyes provides a degree of sporting stability.

However, a future sale could influence transfer policy, managerial decisions, stadium plans and the club’s broader commercial direction. If a new controlling owner emerges, supporters will be watching closely to see whether the buyer can build on the momentum TFG says has been established since its takeover.