John Textor hopes to acquire Everton in the short term. The owner of Olympique Lyon, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek must first relinquish his shares in Crystal Palace.
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In an expansive and revealing interview with Sky Sports, American businessman John Textor outlined his ambitious plans to acquire Everton Football Club, one of the most storied teams in English football.
Textor, who already holds significant stakes in football clubs like Olympique Lyon in France, Botafogo in Brazil, and RWD Molenbeek in Belgium, is now setting his sights on Everton. However, his path to ownership is not without complications.
Textor currently owns 45 percent of Crystal Palace, another Premier League club, and league rules prohibit an individual from holding stakes in more than one club within the same competition. As a result, before making any formal moves to acquire Everton, he is required to sell his shares in Crystal Palace. This presents a logistical challenge, as selling a stake in a Premier League club involves a complex series of negotiations, regulatory approvals, and potential delays. Nevertheless, Textor remains optimistic that he can navigate these obstacles and has been given a deadline of November 30 by Farhad Moshiri, Everton’s current majority shareholder, to finalize his affairs.
The American businessman is clear about why he is drawn to Everton. In his interview, he likened the opportunity to acquiring Everton to being offered a role of immense significance. "If you want to be involved in football and someone asks if you want to become the owner of Everton, it's like someone asking if you want to be the president of the United States," said Textor. "Of course you want that!" He reflected on his early experiences in England, visiting smaller clubs like Leyton Orient and Stockport County, but admitted that owning a club as big as Everton seemed like an unattainable dream. "I never thought about it because it was like looking at the White House and thinking I’d ever live there," he added, illustrating the awe with which he views Everton.
Everton is one of the oldest and most respected clubs in England, boasting a rich history that includes multiple league titles and FA Cups. However, in recent years, the club has struggled both on and off the pitch. A prolonged period of underperformance in the Premier League, coupled with financial challenges, has left Everton in a precarious position. Moshiri, who became the club’s majority shareholder in 2016, has invested heavily in players and infrastructure, including a new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, which is still under construction. However, many of the big-money transfers have failed to deliver results, and the club has been unable to consistently compete at the top level of English football.
Textor’s potential takeover of Everton is seen as a possible turning point for the club. He has developed a reputation for rejuvenating the teams he owns, particularly Botafogo, which has experienced a resurgence since his involvement. At Lyon, Textor has worked to modernize the club’s operations and global reach, focusing on sustainable growth and talent development. His approach to club ownership typically involves a hands-on strategy, leveraging technology and data analytics to enhance player recruitment and development while improving the financial health of the clubs he controls.
While Textor has expressed a strong desire to take over Everton, the club itself has been cautious in its public statements. In response to the interview, Everton issued a statement acknowledging the ongoing talks but emphasizing that several hurdles remain before any deal can be finalized. "Although positive talks have taken place and steps are being made, several matters still need to be resolved before the deal can be finalized," the club said. This measured response underscores the complexity of the situation, with ownership changes in football often involving lengthy and intricate legal processes, particularly when dealing with Premier League regulations and the sale of major assets.
Despite these challenges, there is growing anticipation among Everton supporters about the prospect of new ownership. Many fans have grown frustrated with the team’s lack of success in recent seasons, and Textor’s potential arrival brings hope for a fresh start. His track record of investing in infrastructure and creating sustainable models of growth could be exactly what Everton needs at this critical juncture, as the club faces the dual challenges of financial instability and on-field performance.
The November 30 deadline is fast approaching, and the football world is watching closely to see how the situation unfolds. Should Textor succeed in acquiring Everton, it could mark a significant shift in the Premier League’s ownership landscape, with an owner who already manages a global portfolio of clubs. The potential for synergies between Everton and his other teams could open new doors for talent development, marketing, and fan engagement.
Textor, for his part, remains determined. "I am not only interested, but I also hope that I can actually take over the club. That would be a great honor," he said in the interview, signaling both his commitment to the project and his understanding of the scale of the task ahead. The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether Textor can overcome the logistical and regulatory challenges in time to meet Moshiri’s deadline and bring his vision to life at Everton.
