John Textor Could Secure £40m in Everton Signings Ahead of Official Takeover

Everton has been in a state of uncertainty regarding a takeover for over a year, with previous attempts by 777 Partners and Dan Friedkin to finalize a deal with Farhad Moshiri falling through for different reasons.

John Textor is now the third potential buyer to sign heads of terms with Moshiri, but completing the takeover is still a long way off.

Before any deal can proceed, Textor must sell his Eagle Football Group’s 45% stake in Crystal Palace to comply with the Premier League’s rules on dual ownership.

After resolving the dual ownership issue, Textor must address Everton’s complex debt situation, which includes a £200 million loan originally from 777 Partners, accompanied by significant legal challenges.

In addition to these hurdles, Textor is also working on a proposed initial public offering (IPO) for his Eagle Football Group, which could potentially result in Everton being listed on the New York Stock Exchange post-takeover.

Eagle Football’s multi-club portfolio includes Crystal Palace, RWD Molenbeek, Botafogo, Lyon, and the FC Florida academy project.

Reports from within Textor’s network suggest he may soon orchestrate a transfer move that could win favor with Everton fans before the takeover is even completed.

Is Ernest Nuamah Heading to Everton?

For Everton, like many Premier League clubs, the current transfer window has been relatively quiet.

With Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) expected to impact Everton’s financial strategy for the foreseeable future, the club is unlikely to make any significant moves before the deadline.

However, French outlet L’Equipe reports that Everton might make a late attempt to sign 20-year-old Ghanaian winger Ernest Nuamah.

Notably, Nuamah currently plays for Lyon, a club owned by Textor, having recently transferred from another of Textor’s clubs, RWD Molenbeek. Lyon reportedly values Nuamah at £25 million.

If this transfer goes through, Textor will have overseen over £40 million in transfers between Lyon and Everton, following the £16 million move of center-back Jake O’Brien from Lyon to Everton.

Where Does Everton Fit in Textor’s Multi-Club Strategy?

Although Textor has publicly denied it, some reports suggest Lyon needs to generate around £100 million from player sales to comply with French Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations this season.

Even if these claims are inaccurate, they raise questions about Textor’s priorities within his growing multi-club network.

Listing Eagle Football on the NYSE, combined with the reported £150 million Textor has raised through banks and any proceeds from selling his stake in Crystal Palace, could help alleviate Everton’s immediate debt concerns.

Unlike Manchester City’s City Football Group, Textor’s multi-club model might not revolve around a single ‘mothership’ but rather foster synergies between all affiliated clubs.