Anjishnu Roy 31/07/2025 14comments  |  Jump to last

Everton have completed the transfer of ownership of Goodison Park to their women’s team according to an exclusive by Matt Hughes of The Guardian. The 133-year-old venue will serve as the new home for Everton Women this season onwards.

The idea behind the transfer of ownership is to attract external investment as women’s football continues to take rapid strides in the US. The club’s American owners The Friedkin Group sold the women’s team to a company controlled by them. Documents revealed that assets had been transferred to Roundhouse Capital, the firm used by The Friedkin Group to complete the takeover of Everton last December.

The deal with Roundhouse Capital now includes the ownership of Goodison Park.

“Everton declined to comment, but sources at the club told the Guardian that under the new structure Goodison Park will be held by Everton Women Football Club, with the Hill Dickinson Stadium belonging to Everton Football Club,” the report further stated.

“It is hoped the transfer of ownership will increase the appeal of Everton Women to outside investors, although Roundhouse intends to maintain its majority investment and will only sell a minority stake.”

Changes will be made to the Grand Old Lady before the Women’s Super League campaign kicks off with a Merseyside derby on 7 September. The lower tiers of the Park End, Gwladys Street and the Main Stand are being refurbished, but the upper tiers will not be used.

It has also been reported that the initial ground capacity might be somewhere around 20,000 and might increase with additional demand.

 

Reader Comments (14)

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Michael Coville
1 Posted 31/07/2025 at 18:53:47
Pretty obvious that this would happen.

It will be interesting to see what value is placed on the women's team and the ground and what impact this will have on the amount that the men's team can spend.

Michael Coffey
2 Posted 31/07/2025 at 20:01:05
Oh no! They just want to dismantle it brick by brick and re-build it in the middle of Monument Valley.
Duncan McCarthy
3 Posted 31/07/2025 at 21:50:39
Starting to feel like asset stripping. I hope I am very wrong and eat humble pie. Something feels fishy.
Si Cooper
4 Posted 31/07/2025 at 22:06:59
Duncan, is that feeling in your ‘bones’, your ‘water’ or coming to you from ‘the other side’?
I wish people would refrain from broadcasting their paranoia.
There is no good reason for doing it as it serves no purpose. Ask reasonable questions if you want but keep unhinged speculation out of it. I get enough of that from my work.
Gavin Johnson
5 Posted 31/07/2025 at 22:40:30
Matt Hughes now works for the Guardian..?! Surely, not the same Daily Mail/Matt Hughes who was obsessed with Everton and stirring the pot with falsehoods with the PSR and PL points deductions.
Eric Myles
6 Posted 01/08/2025 at 01:13:50
You must have an interesting job Si?
Mike Gaynes
7 Posted 01/08/2025 at 01:28:47
So do I understand correctly that Everton will be the only women's football club in England to legally own their own stadium?

From what I've read this is a transaction that will certainly help TFG's PSR status, but the stadium ownership would also seem to make the women's team a more attractive investment. Goodison is a nice asset to have in their portfolio!

Si Cooper
8 Posted 01/08/2025 at 03:49:31
Eric (6), it’s what is called root cause analysis by people who are bad at root cause analysis.
Danny O'Neill
9 Posted 01/08/2025 at 07:12:23
Despite my initial reservations, I think it's been a good move by the club to capitalise on what is likely to be continued growth of the women's game.

We are way off attracting the near 30,000 average that Arsenal get at the Emirates. Liverpool, United and Tottenham around 10,000, with City hovering around the WSL average of 7,000.

To Mike's question, I don't know if the fact City's women play at their purpose built 7,000 seater Academy Stadium means they have their own dedicated stadium.

With regards to Goodison, a lot of cosmetics will be required, so it doesn't become empty and soulless. All County Road discussion last season, but I believe the intent is to cover up the upper tiers, including the back of the lower Gwladys and Lower Bullens with signage of the Women's team. Maybe something not too dissimilar to the timeline on the outside of Goodison.

That would leave the Enclosure, Including the corporate boxes, the front of the Lower Gwladys, the Paddock and the Park End, which itself holds nearly 6,000. Maybe they would somehow need to consider a Director's Box. Park End?

And no obstructed views!!! Those who have sat on row SS at the back of the Lower Gwladys will know!!

Dan Nulty
10 Posted 01/08/2025 at 15:30:22
Imagine this will be to justify the fee they have 'paid' the club for the women's team to help our transfer kitty.
Mike Hayes
11 Posted 02/08/2025 at 10:23:25
This is good news.

So what happens to Walton Hall Park? Women's training ground?

Danny O'Neill
12 Posted 03/08/2025 at 06:48:28
Mike @11, I don't think Everton owned or own Walton Hall Park. Well, not as far as I know.

It might be a good idea to use for training, but I would guess the women will also use Finch Farm?

Matt Traynor
13 Posted 03/08/2025 at 08:14:24
Danny #12,

Walton Hall Park is owned by the council. The women had to vacate at the end of last season as the council wanted serious investment put into it. Moving to Goodison Park – even for the medium term – ticks a lot of boxes.

The women train at Finch Farm, and have done for years. They post a lot on social media, much more than the men's team.

Danny O'Neill
14 Posted 03/08/2025 at 08:32:47
I thought that was the case, Matt.

There was talk of Walton Hall Park being the destination for the new stadium a few years, but that fell by the wayside.

Talking of setting up subsidiary companies, I'm sure many of you got the email from the club these past days:

"We're getting in touch to let you know about a small change to how your Everton ticketing account is managed – and to share a quick update to our Privacy Notice.

What's changing?
As part of the ongoing development of our new stadium, a company within the Everton family – Everton Stadium Development Holding Company Limited (ESDHCL) – will now look after the Everton Ticketmaster website and database.

This simply means your Ticketmaster profile will now be held by ESDHCL as a data controller, instead of Everton Football Club Company Limited. Both companies are part of the Everton group, and this change helps us continue delivering our ticketing service.

What does this mean for you?
You don't need to do anything.
Nothing changes with how you use your account.
You can still buy Everton tickets and memberships as usual – online, by phone or at the Box Office.
Your profile stays within the Everton family of organisations".

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