Everton supporters would have been shocked after waking up on Friday morning to the news that current owners, the Friedkin Group, have put the club up for sale.
The hierarchy have only been at the helm for just 22 months after buying the club in December 2024, but are now seeking to step aside and allow for a full takeover.
Top members of the board have come under fire for their transfer dealings over recent times, which no doubt will have played a part in their decision to sanction a change.
However, they have conducted some excellent deals during their time at the helm, as seen with the move to sign one player during last summer’s transfer window.
Why Everton’s deal to sign Thierno Barry was a bargain
During the summer of 2025, Everton entered the market looking to secure the signature of a new striker, with Thierno Barry the man chosen by the Friedkin Group.
The Toffees spent a reported £27m to sign the Frenchman from Spanish side Villarreal, and he’s since become a crucial part of David Moyes’ senior ranks.
The 23-year-old has featured in every Premier League game since his subsequent transfer and has assumed the role as the Scotsman’s starting number nine.
Barry has registered 13 goals in his 48 appearances since his big-money deal, which has seen him average a goal in every 3.6 games he’s appeared in to date.
Five of his subsequent efforts have come during the first seven games of the new campaign, which saw him net a hat-trick during the Carabao Cup victory over Preston North End.
|
Most PL goals for Everton since 2020 |
|
|---|---|
|
Player |
PL goals |
|
Dominic Calvert-Lewin |
33 |
|
Abdoulaye Doucouré |
22 |
|
Beto |
20 |
|
Richarlison |
17 |
|
Iliman Ndiaye |
15 |
|
Dwight McNeil |
14 |
|
Demarai Gray |
9 |
|
Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall |
8 |
|
Thierno Barry |
8 |
In the Premier League this term, the Frenchman has managed to win a staggering average of 6.1 aerial battles per 90 – a figure which places him in the top 5% of all players in the division.
Such numbers make him perfect for Moyes’ current system on Merseyside, with the deal to secure his signature two years ago now looking to be a superb piece of business.
Everton’s best signing of the Friedkin era
Since their takeover in late 2024, the Friedkin Group have invested over £200m on new signings to hand Moyes the platform he needs for success on Merseyside.
Given the Toffees’ inability to finish in the top half of the Premier League during their tenure, not all of their additions have been successful or had the desired impact.
However, a flurry of their big-money arrivals have managed to surpass expectations at the Hill Dickinson, as seen with striker Barry over the last couple of months.
Midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall is another player who has impressed after joining Moyes’ men, with the Englishman becoming one of the best additions of the hierarchy’s spell at the helm.
The former Chelsea man arrived for a reported £25m last summer and has since produced some incredible numbers within attacking areas over recent times.
The 28-year-old has featured 39 times for the club during such a period, and has found the back of the net on nine occasions whilst also providing four assists for his teammates.
His underlying stats from last season demonstrate his quality within attacking areas and highlight why he’s been the club’s best signing over recent windows.
Dewsbury-Hall ended the last campaign with the most combined goals and assists of any player in the senior squad, highlighting his ability to provide the goods in front of goal.
He also managed to complete 7.4 line-breaking passes per 90 in the Premier League, with his subsequent tally the highest of any player within Moyes’ ranks.
Such a figure also saw him rank highly compared to other players in England’s top-flight, as 75% of players in his position registered fewer per 90 throughout 2025/26.
The former Chelsea man’s quality within the final third was also evident in his tally of 1.6 fouls won per 90 in the Premier League – the second highest of any player on Merseyside.
However, it did see him beat 70% of other attackers in such a division, showcasing that the opposition often have to foul him to prevent him from getting in full flow.
The £25m fee spent on his signature last summer now appears to be a bargain deal for the Toffees, as it’s handed the club a player who can lead them up the table.
He and Barry have certainly been the shining light of the Friedkin Group’s tenure at the helm, with the deals to sign the pair their best pieces of business since their arrival.
