Dan Friedkin now 'in talks with Arab investors' as Everton takeover masterplan evolves
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It has been a long, hard road for Everton, but their takeover purgatory is finally coming to an end with Dan Friedkin set to take control in the coming weeks.
Friedkin, a billionaire media investor who is making increasing inroads in football, has agreed to buy the club from Farhad Moshiri.
The mood music within the football industry is that the takeover will be complete before the new year, which would give Friedkin the opportunity to make a statement signing in January.
That will, of course, be dependent on whether Everton have the scope within the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) to do so.
But Everton can fans can look to steadier times with Friedkin at the helm.
And the latest news from football’s financial sphere signals something about the investor’s plans within football.
Saudi officials visit Dan Friedkin’s offices
As Everton fans will be well aware, Friedkin also owns Serie A giants AS Roma.
The 59-year-old enjoyed early success in the Italian capital, appointing Jose Mourinho and steering Roma towards their first ever European trophy in the Europa Conference League.
However, the recent decision to sack club legend Daniele De Rossi has proved – to put it charitably – wildly unpopular among the club’s hardcore support.
Some have even suggested that Friedkin could effectively be chased out of the Stadio Olimpico, with rumours abound that he is holding talks with would-be investors from Saudi Arabia.
And, if the latest news from the Italian media is anything to go by, there may be some substance to those whispers.
“We’ve verified that the source is serious,” says Italian journalist Enrico Camelio.
“Yesterday at the Stadio Olimpico, there were some people – not the owners, not the Friedkins, as they’re not in Rome – who were wealthy. They were even in the Friedkins’ offices. We can say they are Arabs.
“The Friedkins won’t sell. They will give up some shares, around 30 per cent. This has been said to us, and so this is what we’re reporting.
“They can do it because it’s no longer on the stock market, they got out last year.”
AS Roma and Everton: Football’s latest multi-club network
Everton faced Roma in a friendly in pre-season ahead of 2024-25 in what may be a sign of things to come.
With Friedkin seemingly set to remain Roma’s majority owner, even if he sells almost a third of his shares, expect to see further collaboration between the two clubs.
Friedkin also owns AS Cannes, the fourth-tier French side, in a nod to his background in the film making industry.
The multi-club model is very much in vogue at present, with clubs using it to get around regulations relating to recruitment, as well as pooling certain costs for PSR purposes.
The model has been deployed to varying degrees of success.
Red Bull and Man City’s City Football Group are the best case studies, while former Everton takeover hopefuls 777 Partners are at the other end of the spectrum.
