The Friedkin Group has reached an agreement to take over Everton owner Farhad Moshiri's controlling 94.1% stake, the club announced on Monday.
The Texas-based firm is a consortium of investors in the automotive, entertainment, hospitality and sports sectors. It also owns Serie A club Roma.
The deal could mark the end of a tumultuous period at Goodison Park in terms of ownership, with British-Iranian billionaire Moshiri attempting to sell his stake in the club.
Moshiri, a former Arsenal shareholder, first bought a 49.9% stake in Everton in 2016. By January 2022, he had increased his stake to 94.1% with a £100m capital injection.
Last year, Miami-based investment fund 777 Partners said it had signed a deal to acquire its stake, but the deal fell through when it expired amid delays in meeting necessary conditions outlined by the Premier League.
The Friedkin Group reached an agreement in principle in June to buy Moshiri's stake in Everton, but talks broke down a month later.
Now the parties said in a brief joint statement that they have “reached agreement on the terms of the sale” of Moshiri's stake, adding that the deal is subject to approval by the English authorities.
“We are delighted to have reached an agreement to become custodians of this iconic football club,” a spokesperson for the Friedkin Group said.
“We are focused on securing the necessary approvals to complete the transaction. We look forward to bringing stability to the club and sharing our vision for the future, including the completion of the new Everton Stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.”
Everton were on the verge of relegation last season after suffering two points deductions for breaching the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules (PSR). This season, Sean Dyche's side sit second from bottom in the table with one point after five games.
Later on Monday, the Friedkin group issued a statement to reassure Roma fans after a turbulent week for the Italian club.
“We love the beautiful game. The potential addition of Everton to our portfolio does not alter our focus on AS Roma,” Friedkins said on Roma's website. “If anything, the symbiosis between several clubs will only benefit Roma.”
“Each club in our portfolio operates independently and AS Roma remains at the centre of our footballing ambitions. Please be assured that our commitment of time, resources and energy to Roma will not diminish.”
Roma coach and former captain Daniele De Rossi was surprisingly sacked on Wednesday, sparking outrage among fans.
Protests broke out on Sunday before and during Roma's first match under new coach Ivan Jurić. Roma beat Udinese 3-0 and claimed their first win of the season.
“Let's say it: we have the utmost respect for Daniele and believe he will have a great career as a coach. Perhaps one day he will return to Roma,” the statement added.
“The decision to part ways with him was incredibly difficult, but we made it with the belief that it gives us the best chance of competing for trophies this season.”
Information from The Associated Press and Reuters contributed to this story.
