Evertonians know exactly how Sheffield Wednesday fans feel right now as John Textor takeover latest emerges
Everton fans, more than most, will know what it is like to be on the end of a prospective John Textor takeover.
Goodison News reported last September that Textor was set to complete a deal to buy Everton, with the American billionaire granted a period of exclusivity by Farhad Moshiri to discuss the takeover.
The tycoon is also the majority owner of Brazilian club Botafogo, Lyon, RWDM Brussels, and held a minority stake in Crystal Palace until July of this year.
Ultimately, the Friedkin Group completed their takeover of Everton in December, despite the reported interest of Textor.
Moshiri owned Everton for almost nine years and is remembered fondly, despite the circumstances in which he left the Toffees.
John Textor in talks to purchase Sheffield Wednesday
Sheffield Wednesday majority owner Dejphon Chansiri is refusing to sell up, despite massive protests.
Fans invaded the pitch at Hillsborough to make their stance clear once again on Saturday, after the club failed to pay its players’ wages for the fifth time in seven months.
Under the ownership of the Thai businessman, the Owls have faced huge player and coach turnover, with the club placed under numerous embargoes amid delayed payments.
Alan Nixon reported via his Patreon on Sunday that a deal was due to be signed off last month, but is still being worked on.
Despite talk of Textor coming to the rescue, Sheffield Wednesday are still yet to see any funds in the build-up to a potential offer.
The Owls fear a tax bill that would see the club hit with a winding-up action, which could see Sheffield Wednesday placed into administration.
Everton fans know all about talk of Textor
Despite all of the talk about Textor’s thirst to complete his purchase of Everton – with the American even describing his plans in an in-depth interview with Sky Sports – a deal never materialised.
The billionaire even said the idea of becoming the owner of the Toffees would be akin to becoming the President of the United States.
Everton released a statement following the interview, making it clear that any deal was some way from completion.
| Everton ownership – timeline | Date |
| Moshiri agrees to sell majority stake to 777 Partners | September 2023 |
| 777 Partners’ deal to buy Everton collapses | June 2024 |
| Friedkin Group agrees deal to buy Everton | June 2024 |
| Friedkin Group fail to complete deal | July 2024 |
| John Textor granted period of exclusivity to buy Everton | August 2024 |
| Friedkin Group resume talks to buy Everton | September 2024 |
| Friedkin Group complete majority takeover of Everton | December 2024 |
In accordance with the Premier League‘s rules, Textor would have had to have sold his minority shares in Crystal Palace before any deal to buy the Toffees could reach completion.
But following the interview, and the period of exclusivity, all talk about the American’s interest went quiet.
It would appear that, despite Everton fans likely waiting on his every word as they feared their own club’s financial safety, the idea was all part of a game for Textor.
Sheffield Wednesday fans now find themselves in a similar position, and should be wary of the tycoon’s history.
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