If Everton fans needed any more evidence in the growing pile of it against the Friedkin group, then it’s provided today.
Pressure on the American group is growing on Merseyside, with questions being asked about their interest in Everton.
After a difficult end to the summer, in which the money was clearly cut off until Everton sold Iliman Ndiaye, Everton fans want answers. They want to know what their silent owners plan to do, how they plan to do it, and more importantly, whether they’re interested at all.
For all intents and purposes, it appears that they are not. Alongside the money being turned off, Everton are now up for sale. The word is that the Friedkins are happy to entertain both minority and full bids. They are in ‘make us an offer’ territory.
Roma get the cash
It seems that, after spending money to steady the ship, there is now no intent to spend more money to improve it. An issue that Roma – the favoured child – does not seem to have.
Over in Italy, Gazzetta dello Sport provide that evidence in their print edition today.
The newspaper covers Roma’s spending in comparison to Italian champions Inter Milan. And it makes for stark reading from an Everton point of view. Even the first sentence is like a blow to the chest.
“We know Friedkin well: he spares no expense for Roma, and were he not held back by UEFA’s constraints, he would spend even more”, it reads.
Well, that’s certainly not the case at Everton.
They then explained that Gian Piero Gasperini – Roma’s manager – has benefitted from ‘greater investment’ than Christian Chivu at Inter after both arrive in the summer of 2025.
Upon arriving last year, Gasperini was ‘gifted’ two €20m+ signings in Wesley and El Aynaoui. Robinio Vaz then arrived for €20m in January and Donyell Malen was signed on loan. Alongside that were Ziolkowski (6.5 million) and the other loans (Bailey 3, Ferguson 3, Ghilardi 2, and Zaragoza 2). That took the Giallorossi acquisitions in 2025–26 to €86.5 million.
Big investments this season
This season has seen larger investments again, despite Financial Fair Play restrictions. Malen was signed permanently for €25m, and the signings of Castro (35) and Rodrigo Mora (25) were secured.
Koulierakis (16.5), Molina (13), and De Roon (1) were also purchased; Ghilardi was signed permanently (8), and Balerdi was brought in on loan (1).
The total spending for this season came to €124.5m. Let’s now compare that to Everton. They got €129.75m last summer, and €128.95m this summer. But the latter is the crucial one, as there was also €102.75m of sales, including the departure of star man Iliman Ndiaye. That meant Everton ended the window €26.20m in profit.
In comparison, Roma ended the window €106.7m in the red. They brought in just €17.8m of income for their various deals. For them, and their return to the Champions League, it seems money was no object for the Friedkins.
Even compared to champions Inter, Roma come out on top. €211m was invested into the squad in two years compared to €186m. That €25m gap is not an insignificant one.
Squad value rising
In the two years since Gasperini’s arrival, Roma’s squad has also risen in value by €15m. Everton’s squad is now the fifth cheapest in the Premier League. Only Leeds, Sunderland, Coventry and Hull sit beneath them. They are, of course, are sides who have all been promoted back to the Premier League in the last two years.
According to Gazzetta, though, losses are not an issue for the Friedkins. They say that ‘Friedkin is already accustomed to financial losses’ and will help to cover those by ‘equity injections’. Since arriving in Rome in 2020, they have never posted a profit, this year will also end in red.
Yet at Everton, the tap appears to have been shut off. Further equity does not appear to be available, and the Toffees are back at a sell to buy situation.
That, clearly, is an issue Roma do not face. If Everton fans needed more evidence that they are not the favoured club, then this might be it. The cold, hard financial numbers don’t lie.
🇩🇪 Mikey Moore | Everton and Fulham were prepared to pay €30m for Tottenham player in the summer, but 19-year-old thought a loan move to Bundesliga was the better option https://t.co/dKLW3g9z00 #efc #ffc #fulhamfc #thfc
— Sport Witness (@Sport_Witness) September 16, 2026
