Everton owners The Friedkin Group (TFG) are exploring the sale of the club less than two years after taking control, report has indicated.

The American group completed a takeover of the club in 2024 in a deal believed to be worth in excess of £400m.

In a statement, TFG said after prioritising stability, investment and the opening of Everton’s new stadium last year, the time is right “to consider the next chapter”.

“The Friedkin Group is exploring new investment options for Everton Football Club, including the potential sale of a controlling interest,” TFG said.

“When TFG became custodians of Everton, the club faced significant financial uncertainty and challenges both on and off the pitch. The immediate priority was to provide the stability, investment and support needed to secure the club’s future, including helping to bring the long-promised stadium to completion for its deserving supporters.

“With that foundation now safely in place, the time is right to consider the next chapter for Everton.”

Jorge Jesus has responded to the statement Cristiano Ronaldo released on Wednesday.

The Portugal head coach was reacting to Ronaldo’s account of what happened between the pair during the Denmark camp, where a dispute flared up and ended with the Al-Nassr star walking away from the squad.

In that statement, Ronaldo accused Jesus of breaking his promises over the agreed plan for his involvement in the UEFA Nations League matches.

Report quoted Jesus as saying
“I have read the statement,”

“And now, as I do every day, I will head to the federation to work, and to think about the team and the Portuguese national team. I have nothing more to say than that,” he was said to have told the journalists waiting for him outside his home.

Ronaldo’s lengthy statement apologised to the Portuguese people and admitted he deserved to be punished by the Portuguese Football Federation. He also revealed what led up to the dispute, pointing specifically to a short document “that was handed to the coach at his request”. It set out 8 points Jesus was supposed to raise in the press conference before the Denmark match. According to Ronaldo, “nothing that was discussed was carried out in front of the media”.

Jesus had insisted earlier that he hadn’t read the statement, saying he was watching a Portugal under-21 match when it dropped. He did, though, confirm he knew it had been published.

Katsina United will host Enyimba in a Nigeria Premier Football League, NPFL, Matchday Eight encounter at the Muhammadu Dikko Stadium on Friday night.

The fixture will be the second Friday night game of the 2026/27 NPFL season, following Shooting Stars’ 2-1 victory over Inter Lagos in the first Friday night fixture of the campaign.

Katsina United head into the clash without a win in their last two league matches. The Chanji Boys played out a 1-1 draw against Rivers United before recording another 1-1 draw against Inter Lagos last weekend.

Enyimba, meanwhile, have enjoyed an upturn in form after a difficult start to the season.

Emmanuel Deutsch’s side are unbeaten in their last three league outings, securing two victories and a draw during that run.

The Aba-based club will be hoping to extend their unbeaten streak when they take on Katsina United on Friday.