Dakir Thanveer

Mon 10 March 2025 12:10, UK

Kevin Thelwell has been highlighting the challenges he has faces as the Everton director of football ahead of his imminent Goodison Park exit.

Everton are undergoing major structural changes behind the scenes ahead of their first full season under The Friedkin Group, with the appointment of Angus Kinnear as the new CEO the biggest decision made so far.

Thelwell will leave his role when his contract expires at the end of the season, allowing the Merseyside-based club to move away from a single sporting director model to a new system helmed by a sports leadership team.

While the Premier League outfit are expected to announce more senior appoints in due course, Thelwell will oversee the transition for the time being.

Thelwell reflects on PSR, transfers and more ahead of Goodison exit

Thelwell has finally broken his silence in a heartfelt letter to the Everton fans as he concludes his three-year spell at Goodison Park, expressing his gratitude at being a part of the club.

The executive admitted that he often had to work with his hands tied as the Toffees navigated through various challenges, including PSR constraints and points deduction.

He pointed out that the Blues were always outspent by every other team in the Premier League, forcing him to be creative with transfers, particularly in the wake of the club’s financial situation.

With Everton much more stable under the Friedkins, Thelwell is of the view that the club are in a significantly better position now than they were when he initially arrived in February 2022.

“With a backdrop of PSR commissions, points deductions, relegation fights, takeover attempts and a financial reality that necessitated tough decisions on player transfers and significantly reduced team investment, it has not been easy to keep our heads above water and retain our Premier League status”, Thelwell wrote in a statement via the Association of Sporting Directors (10 March).

“Navigating the last three years, whilst building a magnificent new stadium, hopefully provides some pride for you and gives everyone associated with our club and the city the opportunity to look forward to a brighter future.

“I feel that I leave with the Club in a much better place than when I arrived, both on the pitch and off it.

“Being consistently outspent by every team in the league has not been easy but it was a necessity to ensure the survival of our club – and that is something that I’ve always been honest and open about.

“My goal has always been to manage with the multiple immediate challenges, without jeopardising the long-term future of the Club.

“As a result, we are in a much stronger financial position, and I am excited about where we are on the pitch.

“From a football perspective, we have had to be creative through player trading.

“Whilst we have received £225m in player sales over the last three years, our circumstances have only allowed us to spend £145m across six transfer windows.

“Whilst we haven’t got every move right, to build a team capable of competing at Premier League level against that landscape, having to be pragmatic in moving on some of our best players and future talent in the process, is an incredible achievement.”

A statement on behalf of Kevin Thelwell.https://t.co/UdN1bx88A9 pic.twitter.com/WSPNhbtFnn

— Association of Sporting Directors (@ASD_SportDir) March 10, 2025

Everton move in different direction under Friedkins

Everton’s transfer business under Thelwell was not exciting by any means as they had to sell the likes of Amadou Onana and Alex Iwobi to comply with PSR rules.

However, the sporting director deserves due credit for helping to keep the Toffees afloat amid all the trouble they faced in the last few years of Farhad Moshiri‘s ownership.

They are in much better hands now following the takeover by the Friedkins, who are overseeing structural changes ahead of next season.