John Textor has revealed plans to establish a new holding company called ‘Everton Football Group’ to facilitate his potential acquisition of Everton FC. Textor is currently in exclusive negotiations with Everton’s majority owner, Farhad Moshiri, to acquire a 94.1% stake in the club. However, before the deal can proceed, Textor must sell his 45% shareholding in Premier League side Crystal Palace.
At a recent press conference in Lyon, where Textor also owns Olympique Lyonnais through his Eagle Football Holdings group, he clarified his intentions to create a separate entity for Everton, distancing it from his other football ventures.
“The acquisition of Everton would be funded by new equity,” said Textor. “I’m the principal buyer in that group, and we are forming a new holding company called the ‘Everton Football Group’. This is separate from Eagle Football Holdings, both in the UK and France. I’ve also invited a couple of friends with terrific resources to support the acquisition, but it’s contemplated that I’ll be the majority shareholder.”
Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings already includes Olympique Lyonnais, Brazilian club Botafogo, and Belgian side Molenbeek. However, he emphasized that Everton would remain independent of these clubs financially and legally.
“It’s expected to be a highly collaborative relationship with Lyon and other clubs, but legally, it’s a separate entity,” he added. “In that sense, it will have no financial impact on Eagle Football Holdings or its associated clubs.”
The deal for Everton, if it goes through, is expected to be financed entirely through equity. “The acquisition is going to be separately financed by 100% equity with the shares of Everton Football Group,” said Textor, reinforcing his commitment to ensuring the purchase is independent of his other ventures.
Textor has been granted exclusivity in negotiations until November 30, with the football world eagerly watching how the deal unfolds.