X Games Owner in Discussions for Everton Stake

MSP Sports Capital could expand its soccer portfolio with an investment in Everton.

Everton owner Farhad Moshiri clarified earlier this week that the club wasn’t for sale, but that a minority investment to help fund its new stadium — expected to cost around $936 million — was close.

Bloomberg reported that MSP has held preliminary discussions with the club, which currently ranks second-to-last in the Premier League standings and is at risk of being one of the three teams relegated to the second tier at the end of the season.

• Moshiri, who took control of the team in 2016, previously said he’s been talking to investors to bring in more talent and “bridge a gap on the stadium.” 
• Everton hasn’t won any major trophies since 1995 and sacked manager Frank Lampard this week.

“We are close to having a deal done,” Moshiri said in a video on the team’s website this week, though it wasn’t clear with whom. “It’s not selling the club at all. It’s just bringing more expertise in terms of global sponsorship, in terms of commercial development.”

MSPortfolio

MSP Sports Capital, which was founded by Phoenix Suns co-owner Jahm Najafi and former sports agent Jeff Moorad, has stakes in several other soccer teams, including Portugal’s Estoril Praia, Spain’s AD Alcorcon, Belgium’s SK Beveren, and Germany’s FC Augsburg.

In 2020, MSP purchased a minority stake in Formula 1’s McLaren Racing team and acquired a controlling stake in X Games from ESPN in October.