Everton

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Dan Friedkin, chairman and chief executive of the Friedkin Group, is proposed to be chairman of Everton's new board.

He has appointed Marc Watts to serve as executive chairman, who will be responsible in this role for the management of the club.

Ana Dunkel, the Group’s chief financial officer, and Colin Chong, the club’s interim chief executive, will also serve on the board.

Additional appointments will be made in the coming weeks.

What do you make of that then Everton fans? Glad it's finally a done deal?

What are the main challenges for the Friedkin Group? And how much faith do you have in them being able to restore the club to its former glories?

Let us know your thoughts via the usual channels listed above.

Everton

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The Friedkin Group is based in the United States and is led by chairman Dan Friedkin, who also owns Roma. He has a net worth of £5.7bn, according to Forbes., external

His takeover of Everton means that 10 Premier League clubs are now under majority American ownership - exactly 50% of clubs in England's top flight.

Everton

The Friedkin Group had agreed a deal in principle to purchase Farhad Moshiri's 94% stake in Everton in June.

But talks were called off a month later after the two parties failed to finalise an agreement. That followed Miami-based 777 Partners being unable to a complete a deal earlier this year.

In a complex saga surrounding the takeover, American businessman and Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor then jumped in for talks but could not complete a deal because Premier League rules prohibit individuals from owning more than one team.

The Friedkin Group was already a lender to the club after injecting £200m.

Everton

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Outgoing club owner Farhad Moshiri has written to the Everton fans for a final time. A letter on the club website, external reads: "I write with mixed emotions, with a sense of optimism for what the future may hold but also some sorrow when reflecting on the past.

"The last couple of years have been challenging to say the least for the football club, financially, boardroom change and results on the pitch and of course the loss of our chairman Bill Kenwright.

"I am proud of the way the club has overcome these challenges both internally and with the tremendous support you the fans have given us all.

"There is of course passion in football, but I really believe that there is nothing to match the passion of Evertonians, and there is nothing like Goodison [Park] in full voice, such as inspiring the team, as you did in the second half against [Crystal] Palace."

Premier League

Premier League statement: "The Premier League board has approved the Friedkin Group’s 98.8% acquisition of Everton football club, following the completion of the league’s owners’ and directors’ test.

"Having been agreed by the board, the takeover has now been ratified by an independent oversight panel.

"The club’s new owners and directors have also signed the Premier League’s owners’ charter."

Everton

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American businessman and film producer Dan Friedkin has written a message directly to the Everton fans, on the club website:, external "Following the completion of the takeover of Everton football club, I want to express my gratitude for your continued support and introduce the incoming executive chairman of Everton, Marc Watts.

"I take immense pride in welcoming one of England’s most historic football clubs to our global family, the Friedkin Group. Everton represents a proud legacy, and we are honoured to become custodians of this great institution.

"The Friedkin Group is a diverse family of companies with a global footprint spanning industries such as sports, automotive, entertainment, hospitality, and adventure. Across all our endeavours, we strive to deliver extraordinary experiences that ignite people’s passions. We are thrilled to bring this ethos to Everton and the Liverpool city region.

"Whilst we are new to the club, we fully understand the vital role Everton plays in local culture, history, and the lives of Evertonians here and around the world. We are deeply committed to honouring this legacy while contributing positively to the community, economy, and people of this remarkable city.

"Once again, thank you for your continued support."

Everton

Marc Watts, incoming executive chairman of Everton Football Club, said: "Today marks a momentous and proud occasion for the Friedkin Group as we become custodians of this iconic football club.

"We are committed to leading Everton into an exciting new era both on and off the pitch. Providing immediate financial stability to the club has been a key priority, and we are delighted to have achieved this.

"While restoring Everton to its rightful place in the Premier League table will take time, today is the first step in that journey."

Everton

Now we have some breaking news to bring you.

The Friedkin Group have completed its protracted takeover of Premier League club Everton.

It has bought the club from owner Farhad Moshiri, who became Everton's majority shareholder in February 2016 before gradually increasing his stake.

More to follow.

The Carabao Cup semi-finals will take place over two legs, on the weeks commencing 6 January and 3 February.

Arsenal, Liverpool and Newcastle United are already through to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup after winning their quarter-final ties on Wednesday.

Tottenham host Manchester United later (20:00 GMT) to decide which team completes the last four.

The semi-final draw for the Carabao Cup will take place later today, after the conclusion of Tottenham's quarter-final tie with Manchester United (20:00 GMT).

Rob from sunny Bournemouth: In response to Chris message at 9:23: Are you mad, as a Spurs fan who have been on a drought for what feels like eternity, we are desperate to get our hands on it! As I'm sure Newcastle fans would feel the same. Desperate times call for desperate measures....

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Manchester United will be without Mason Mount at Tottenham tonight after he suffered another injury during Sunday's Premier League victory at Manchester City.

Mount was starting only his fourth Premier League game of the season at City but lasted just 14 minutes before coming off with yet another muscular problem.

The 25-year-old was visibly distressed as he left the field and United are still to confirm the length of his absence.

"In the dressing room he was really, really sad so we need to help him," said Amorim.

"When the player is in this moment, with a lot of injuries and with this schedule, and we have to maintain the load and we have to travel and with travelling you cannot train, it’s really hard for them.

"We will try to find a better way to recover these kind of guys like Mount and Luke Shaw because after a few weeks and a few months they will be ready to cope with a lot of things."

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Re Alan @ 08:48: This can't be serious right? Games in the league cup have been essential for players like TAA, Curtis Jones, Harvey Elliott, and Connor Bradley breaking into the first team in recent years.

And with top 8 in the Champions League all but guaranteed it'll only really be Chelsea who are likely to have two less games to play because of it.

Not to mention it's a chance to defend a trophy they're currently the holders of.

Thomas

One question remains for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal - could Gabriel Jesus be the long-term answer in the central striker's role?

The 27-year-old Brazil striker has never delivered a 20-goal season in the Premier League since joining Manchester City in January 2017.

Arteta said that Jesus "wants to work harder and help the team in every way", but does he do too much?

His touch map against Crystal Palace shows that Jesus covered a lot of ground, but do all those touches outside the box take him away from his key role in the team - to score goals?

Arsenal

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta certainly believes that, if Gabriel Jesus can maintain the levels he showed in scoring a hat-trick against Crystal Palace, the Brazil striker can "really deliver" for the Gunners.

"It's about confidence," said the Spaniard. "You know, when you haven't scored a goal [in front of your own fans] for almost a year, it is tough. It's in your mind and you are thinking about it.

"Gabby is someone who wants to do more. He wants to work harder and help the team more in every way. Today it got rewarded.

"The movement, the quality of his touches, the way he finished, his reactions - that is a big, big thing for him and the team. It is a big message for the team in that we have got Gabby back at his best. Playing at that level he can really deliver for us."

Image source, Getty Images

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Gabriel Jesus helped to turn Arsenal from a top-four team into title contenders when he arrived in July 2022 from Manchester City.

In his first campaign for the Gunners, the Brazil striker scored 11 league goals after starting in 24 of his 26 league appearances.

But he has struggled to re-establish himself as a consistent starter following a run of injury problems and subsequent drop in form.

Last season, Jesus scored just four league goals for Arsenal after starting in 17 of his 27 league games, while this season he is yet to get off the mark in the Premier League after starting in just two of his 13 appearances.

So Arsenal fans, could Jesus' EFL Cup hat-trick against Crystal Palace be a turning point for the Brazil striker? Thumbs up for yes, down for no.

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When Gabriel Jesus signed for Arsenal from Manchester City for £45m in July 2022, it marked the end of manager Mikel Arteta's long search for a central striker.

The pair had worked together at City and Arteta said at the time of his arrival: "I know Gabriel personally very well, and we all know him well from his time in the Premier League and being really successful here.

"This is a position that's been on our radar for a long time now and we have managed to get a player that we all wanted, so I'm really happy."