Everton in the Spotlight with £400m Bid from Global Investors

Everton has received a £400m bid from a consortium of international investors, including a member of the Saudi royal family, aiming to purchase the Premier League club. Previously, Farhad Moshiri had agreed to sell his 94% stake to 777 Partners in September. However, the deal fell through, thereby allowing other parties to bid for the club. In addition, local businessmen Andy Bell and George Downing, along with MSP Sports Capital which has loaned Everton around £158m are also vying for exclusivity after lodging their bids.

Meanwhile, Vatche Manoukian a London-based businessman and lawyer leads a bid with an unnamed Saudi royal and high-net-worth families from the United States. Notably, they aim for a sustainable, long-term strategy without incurring additional debt with their all-equity offer. The consortium views Everton as a “sleeping giant” with the potential to return to the top of world football, especially with the new stadium being built at Bramley-Moore Dock. Manoukian, 45, partners with tech investment firm IMS Digital Ventures and receives support from Australia’s Myer family.

Moreover, other interested parties include Roma owner Dan Friedkin, Michael Dell of Dell Technologies and Kenneth King of investment firm A-Cap. For context, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, chaired by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, completed a £305m takeover of Newcastle in October 2021. In response, Everton’s fan advisory board (FAB) has issued an open letter to prospective buyers, calling for “open, transparent and regular engagement” with supporters.

Following the lengthy takeover attempt by 777, which ended on 31 May, the FAB hopes future processes will conclude more swiftly. The group emphasized the importance of new ownership working in partnership with supporters to recognize Everton’s heritage, sustainability, creativity and commercial potential.