David Moyes has admitted he was “surprised” by the Friedkin Group’s decision to consider selling a controlling stake in the club less than two years after taking over.
In a statement on Friday, TFG revealed they are open to new investment in the club despite only taking over Everton from Farhad Moshiri in December 2024.
The group said their immediate priorities were to secure the stability, investment and support required to secure Everton’s future, including the completion of the new stadium.
In addition, TFG added that they will only consider proposals from interested parties that they believe can build on the progress made since taking over the commitment in Merseyside.
TFG’s decision came after a transfer window that drew criticism from supporters, with Everton accepting a £40m bid for Harrison Armstrong from Nottingham Forest before pulling out of that deal, while also allowing Beto to join Fiorentina without signing a replacement.
“Yes, I was surprised, they were only coming a year and a half ago,” Moyes told a news conference after the news.
“Most owners come for longer than that. We all expected them to be here for 20 to 30 years, however long it was.
“But maybe I’ve seen a bit of how things go in the transfer window before that. It’s probably all the Evertonians have to do now.
“I really believed that with the new ownership with us all, my ambition to come back was to get Everton back to the levels they were in the past – to challenge for Europe more often, to be around it.
“And you can probably tell how I’ve been over the summer. It’s been a rough summer for us.”
Club statement.
— Everton (@Everton) October 9, 2026
But Everton’s focus will now turn to matters on the pitch when they return to Premier League action against newly-promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium this weekend.
Sergej Jakirovic’s side have again made a strong start in the top flight, sitting in eighth place after the first five matches, just one point and one place behind unbeaten Everton.
Hull will play against Newcastle United on September 19 at St. He signed for the international break after suffering his first league defeat of the season in a 2-1 defeat at James’ Park.
Despite all of Everton’s problems off the pitch, Jakirovic faces a tougher test against a side he admits has plenty of quality in all areas.
“[They are] not yet defeated. It is very difficult to stay undefeated. I think they are very pragmatic, highly tactically disciplined,” Jakirovich said.
“Good players, England internationals. Also, [Jack] There’s Grealish. It may be different from time to time. They have experience at this level.
“I expect a difficult game on Sunday, but they have positives and negatives, so we will try to use those negatives.”
Of Everton boss Moyes, Jakirovic added: “I call this type of coach an old fox. They know everything about football, they have a lot of experience.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Hull City – Mohamed Belloumi
Belloumi has been involved in four goals (two goals, two assists) in the Premier League this season.
It is the most appearances by a Hull player in the first five matches in the competition, alongside Mohamed Diame (four goals) and Dame N’Doye (three goals, one assist).
Back to @premierleague action.
— Hull City (@HullCity) October 8, 2026
Everton – Tierno Barry
In the Premier League this season, only Erling Haaland (4.43) and Alexander Isak (3.54) have higher expected goals than Everton’s Barry (3.50).
However, Barry’s xG performance of -1.5 (2 goals) is the third highest in the competition this season.
MATCH PREDICTION: EVERTON WIN
Everton have met more than twice in the Premier League, they have scored more goals per game than anyone else against Hull (2.2 goals in 10 games – 22 goals), scoring at least two goals in eight of their 10 meetings in the competition.
However, since the start of the 2021-22 season, Everton have won just two of their 15 away games against newly promoted Premier League opponents, beating Burnley 2-0 in 2023-24 and Ipswich 2-0 in 2024-25 (8 L5).
However, Everton are unbeaten in five Premier League games this season (2D 3D) and can avoid defeat in the first six games of a campaign in the competition for the third time since 2006-07 (first seven) and 2013-14 (six).
Hull have won just two of their 10 Premier League games against Everton (D3 L5), both at home, 3-2 in November 2009 and 2-0 in January 2015.
The Tigers are the only team to keep a clean sheet at home in the Premier League this season. Hull can become only the third newly promoted side to keep a clean sheet in each of their first three home games of a Premier League campaign, following Swansea City in 2011-12 (first four) and Watford in 2015-16 (three).
OPTA WIN probability
Hull City – 28.4%
Win – 25.9%
Everton – 45.7%