Everton Football Club is expected to undergo significant changes following an exclusivity agreement signed between the club’s majority shareholder, Farhad Moshiri and American investment firm MSP Sports Capital. The deal, which is said to be for a minority stake of 25% of the club, is expected to trigger wholesale changes.
According to a report by i News, Moshiri is staying tight-lipped on the prospect of a deal, as he doesn’t want to detract from the end of the league campaign, with relegation hanging in the balance. This means that only a handful of senior club employees are being kept in the loop about the club’s future ownership situation.
While a resolution is needed on the investment front after months of talks between MSP Sports Capital and rival American interest 777 Partners, there is little to be gained by announcing it before the final game of the season, where Everton takes on Bournemouth.
An exclusivity agreement with MSP Sports Capital means that there isn’t the chance of losing ground on any rival bids, so allowing the supporters and the players to focus entirely on the match makes sense. The team needs to win to guarantee their safety and anything less would leave the door open to relegation.
The funding for the stadium will be officially secured soon after, provided the team can just get over the line. This, however, doesn’t mean an end to wrangling, as it could potentially be the start of the next round of disputes.
Recent years have seen significant investment into Premier League clubs by foreign investors seeking ownership stakes. Wealthy and sovereign-backed funds have invested heavily, attracted by the potential financial rewards that the Premier League offers. In addition, the league is home to some of the most popular and lucrative franchises in the World.
Everton has already benefitted from investment by Moshiri and previous shareholders. However, the club now hopes to take its development to the next level; MSP Sports Capital could be the catalyst for this. Fans of the club will hope that the agreement results in positive changes on the pitch, as well as off it.
