Moyes surprised by potential Everton sale
Everton manager David Moyes admitted he was surprised by The Friedkin Group's decision to consider selling a controlling stake in the club, less than two years after taking over.
TFG announced it was open to new investment into the club, despite only acquiring Everton from Farhad Moshiri in December 2024.
The group revealed its immediate priority had been to provide the stability, investment and support required to secure Everton's future, including completing the club's brand new Hill Dickinson Stadium.
In addition, TFG added it would only consider proposals from interested parties it believed could build on the progress made since it took over.
TFG's decision follows a transfer window that drew criticism from supporters, with Everton accepting a £40 million ($75.8 million) bid from Nottingham Forest for Harrison Armstrong before pulling out of that deal, while also allowing Beto to join Fiorentina without signing a replacement.
"Yeah, I was surprised, they'd only come in a year and a half ago," Moyes said after the news broke.
"Most owners come in for a lot longer than that. We were all expecting them to be here for 20 to 30 years, however long it may be.
"But maybe the way things worked out over the transfer window, I probably had seen through it a little bit before that. It's probably all there for Evertonians to see now.
"I truly believed that with new ownership who were in for it completely with us all, my ambition coming back was to get Everton back to the levels they'd been at in the past – challenging for Europe more often, being around it.
"And you could probably tell with how I've been a lot over the summer that that's the way it's been. It's been a difficult summer for us."
Everton's attention will now turn to matters on the pitch this weekend, when it returns to Premier League action at MKM Stadium against newly-promoted Hull City.
Sergej Jakirovic's side has made a strong start to life back in the top tier, sitting eighth after its first five matches and just one point and one place behind unbeaten Everton.
Hull signed off for the international break off the back of its first league defeat of the season, going down 2-1 at St. James' Park against Newcastle United.
Jakirovic expects another tough test against a side he acknowledges have plenty of quality in all areas.
"[They are] still unbeaten. It is very difficult to stay unbeaten. I think they're very pragmatic, they have high tactical discipline," Jakirovic noted.
"Good players, international players of England. Also, [Jack] Grealish is there. Maybe he can be the difference at any time. They have experience at this level.
"I am expecting a difficult game on Sunday, but they also have pros and cons, so we will try to use these cons."
David William Moyes
Everton FC
