Moshiri insists Everton Football Club is not for sale

Everton majority shareowner Farhad Moshiri has just released a statement through the club’s website (a rarity, if we must say so ourselves) clarifying that Everton Football Club is not for sale, even though he did admit that he had fielded at least some questions regarding a takeover for the Blues.

Dear Evertonians,

There has been much talk of investment in our football club recently – even takeovers – but I want to clarify that there is no ‘for sale’ sign currently hanging outside Everton Football Club.

It will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities and, as I have been transparent about, I am focused on completing the financing for our fantastic new stadium as well as strengthening the playing squad and that might include a minority investment. That will continue.

But I want to reassure all of you that Everton Football Club is not for sale.

My commitment to the Club remains strong and focused and Kevin Thelwell and the Chairman are currently working hard to bring in new players to improve Frank Lampard’s squad.

There will be new signings and I would ask supporters to judge us at the end of the transfer window – not now – and to listen to official club channels for information.

The fact that we are an open and collaborative football club which listens to our supporters was underlined last week when we added another famous first to our long list of historic milestones when the inaugural Everton Fan Advisory Board met.

Our CEO Denise Barrett-Baxendale, along with Non-Executive Director Graeme Sharp and other senior Club officials, welcomed the first fan-elected and independent advisory board of its kind in the top flight of English football to our Royal Liver Building headquarters.

This occasion firmly underlines our ongoing commitment to engage with our supporters and, as we look to the 2022/23 season, we are committed to furthering that dialogue.

Finally, I would like to thank you for your continued support.

Farhad Moshiri

Multiple media sources had reported up to four parties interested in purchasing the Toffees outright from Moshiri, with a US-based consortium led by former Chelsea and Manchester United executive Peter Kenyon apparently leading the way having signed heads of terms as well as getting a period of exclusivity to analyze the club’s finances.

The Kenyon group was said to have even met Moshiri’s £1 billion valuation of the club (to include the new stadium being built at the Bramley Moore dock), but once that exclusivity period expired the club unofficially said the bid had fallen through and did not renew the terms, even though the Kenyon group claimed negotiations remained underway.

Looks like there will be more to come on this following days.