Farhad Moshiri is reportedly in advanced talks to sell Everton to American businessman Maciek Kaminski for around £400m.
There have been rumours of a takeover at Everton for some time, with fans protesting Moshiri’s running of the club with a number of demonstrations at Goodison Park.
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Moshiri – who first invested in Everton in 2016 and took a majority share two years later – has been looking for new investment to help fund the club’s £500m new stadium after a number of sponsorship deals with Alisher Usmanov’s companies were suspended over his ties with Vladimir Putin.
But Moshiri issued a public statement insisting the club was not for sale.
He said: “There has been much talk of investment in our football club recently – even takeovers – but I want to clarify that there is no ‘for sale’ sign currently hanging outside Everton Football Club.
“It will always be pragmatic to explore all potential investment opportunities and, as I have been transparent about, I am focused on completing the financing for our fantastic new stadium as well as strengthening the playing squad, and that might include a minority investment. That will continue.
“But I want to reassure all of you that Everton Football Club is not for sale.”
But the Financial Times report that Moshiri has changed his stance with talks with Kaminski ‘progressing in recent days’.
The Minnesota-based investor built his wealth acquiring office properties in Minneapolis and has since set up KAM Sports, with its website claiming it was set up to “own and manage premier international sports assets”, and it appears Everton would be the first “sports asset” in their portfolio.
A statement released by KAM Sports in July stated: ‘As a general principle, we prefer to conduct our business in private to create the fairest environment for those involved – and in this particular situation, to minimize uncertainty for fans of Everton.
‘It is regrettable that this has not been possible. We respectfully remain interested in acquiring the club as we believe its fans deserve nothing less than the best, and our offer to achieve this stands.
‘However, in consideration of all Everton fans, we will not be making further public comments at this time.’
A successful purchase would mean half of the Premier League’s 20 clubs would have US shareholders.
