David Moyes has admitted his surprise at Everton being put up for sale by owners The Friedkin Group - even claiming he only found out on Friday morning when the statement was released to the supporters. The Friedkin Group (TFG) announced they are open to new investment into the club - including the "potential sale of a controlling interest". The group, led by American billionaire Dan Friedkin, only completed their full takeover of Everton in December 2024 - ending Farhad Moshiri's long spell at the helm.
"Yeah I was surprised, they'd only came in a year and a half ago," Moyes said in a press conference - before claiming he first felt signs of the owners not being committed during the most recent transfer window. "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 probably you could 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. "I only found out this morning myself along with everybody else.
I'm a little bit surprised, but maybe not really that surprised." Moyes also admitted he feels sympathy for the Everton fans who have to go through another period of uncertainty. The last three years alone have seen Moshiri try to sell the club to 777 Partners and John Textor, only for both of their takeover bids to fall through. TFG also saw talks collapse before finally breaking through in late 2024.
Everton also had two rounds of points deductions for breaching the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), which came in a period that nearly saw the club relegated from the Premier League for the first time. Moyes, who returned to the club in early 2025, admitted the last year was one of stability for the club. But that has now changed.
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