Moyes reveals he has never spoken to Everton owner but is defiant after transfer blows
David Moyes has revealed he has never spoken to Everton's owner, Dan Friedkin, in the 20 months since returning as manager, exposing a striking disconnect at boardroom level just as the club's transfer window collapsed into chaos. The admission comes amid growing scrutiny of The Friedkin Group's commitment to Everton, following claims the American ownership group is seeking fresh investment or even a sale, and after a deadline-day saga that left Moyes with a significantly weakened squad.
Moyes, whose main contact at the club is chief executive Angus Kinnear rather than Friedkin himself, said he had never met or spoken to the owner but hoped closer ties would develop over time. The turmoil began when TFG moved to sell Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest last weekend, a deal reversed only after a furious fan backlash, but Everton still lost Iliman Ndiaye, Beto, Tim Iroegbunam and Nathan Patterson before the window closed. Despite the setbacks, Moyes struck a defiant tone, insisting supporters' anger could be channelled into a rallying force and vowing his depleted squad would try to achieve "something special" this season.
- Moyes says he has never spoken to or met owner Dan Friedkin.
- Everton lost several players in a chaotic transfer window finish.
- Moyes remains defiant, hoping fan anger galvanises the squad.
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David Moyes returned as Everton manager in January 2025, taking charge of a club that has struggled financially and on the pitch for several years. Everton is owned by The Friedkin Group, an American investment company led by Dan Friedkin, which bought the club from previous owner Farhad Moshiri. The club's day-to-day dealings with the manager are usually handled by chief executive Angus Kinnear.
Summer transfer windows are periods when football clubs can buy and sell players, and this year's window closed with Everton having sold several first-team players while bringing in comparatively little in return, leaving Moyes with a smaller squad than before. Any suggestion of distance between a manager and a club's owner, or of an ownership group reconsidering its investment, tends to unsettle supporters, since it raises questions about a club's direction and ambition.
This story matters because Everton are a well-supported Premier League club with a long history, and uncertainty over ownership intentions or transfer strategy can affect team performance, staff morale and fan confidence heading into a new season.