Everton owner increases stake in club with 18.7% share purchase

Farhad Moshiri

Everton FC owner Farhad Moshiri has increased his stake in the Premier League club.

In an announcement this morning the club confirmed that the Iranian billionaire has “further committed to, and increased his shareholding in the club”.

Mr Moshiri originally bought into the Goodison Park club in February 2016, when he sold his stake in North London side Arsenal and acquired a 49.9% stake in the Blues.

At the time he pledged to increase his shareholding.

Today, the club revealed that Mr Moshiri has purchased another 18.7% of shares, through Blue Heaven Holdings Ltd.

This gives him a total shareholding of 68.6%, which is expected to increase to 77.2% no later than July 2019.

Since taking over at Everton Mr Moshiri has sanctioned spending of more than £300m on transfers, overseen the replacement of two permanent first team managers, and announced plans for a new stadium, at Bramley Moore Dock on the banks of the River Mersey.

His latest investment in Everton’s stock will further inflame speculation among fans that it could be the precursor to former Arsenal shareholder, Uzbek-born Alisher Usmanov taking a stake in Everton.

Mr Usmanov and Mr Moshiri enjoy strong business links and in January 2017 Everton announced its Finch Farm training ground was to be renamed USM Finch Farm, after a multi-million pound sponsorship deal.

USM is one of the world’s largest private holding companies and was founded by Alisher Usmanov.

Early last month Mr Usmanov severed his ties with Arsenal after agreeing to sell his shareholding to American majority stakeholder Stan Kroenke for a sum in the region of £550m.

Close