The Athletic FC Podcast – Are Everton Ready to Kick On Under Their US Owners?

Date: December 20, 2025
Host: Ayo Akimwaleere
Guests: Paddy Boylan (Everton Correspondent), Greg O'Keefe (Reporter), Leon Osman (Former Everton Midfielder)

Episode Overview

The episode celebrates the one-year anniversary of Everton's takeover by the US-based Friedkin Group, reflecting on the transformative effect this has had on the club both on and off the pitch. Host Ayo Akimwaleere is joined by ever-insightful reporters Paddy Boylan and Greg O'Keefe, as well as club legend Leon Osman, to assess Everton's newfound stability, David Moyes' second tenure, infrastructure changes, and how these set up Everton’s prospects amongst growing ambitions under American ownership.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. A Year of the Friedkin Group: Stability and Hope

Timestamps: 03:33–06:27

• Mood Change Post-Takeover:
  • Paddy Boylan describes pre-takeover Everton as existentially troubled with turbulent finances and relegation battles.

    "A different club... a sea change really for a side that was imperilled financially and battling relegation every year to what is relative stability right now." — Paddy Boylan (03:45)

• From Relegation to European Hopes:
  • Greg O’Keefe highlights the massive shift from survival fears to challenging for the top four.

    "Before the weekend... people were talking about their ability to climb into the top four. It's just remarkable really. So [Moyes’] safe hands have been really important as well." — Greg O’Keefe (04:50)

• Steady, Well-funded Ownership:
  • The Friedkin Group quickly refinanced debt, invested in the squad (£100 million+), and promoted a sense of steadiness not seen under previous owners.

    "They are steady custodians. I don't think they've set the world on fire, but I think there's a steadiness that simply was not there..." — Paddy Boylan (06:27)

2. David Moyes 2.0 – Experience, Fire, and Evolution

Timestamps: 08:48–11:29

• Moyes Returns Revitalized:
  • With his experiences at Man United, Real Sociedad, and West Ham, Moyes brings fire and adaptability.

    "That's one thing you have to say about David Moyes is the fire is still burning... he's come into it with an evolved version of that manager." — Greg O’Keefe (09:19)

• Recruitment and Man-Management:
  • Osman's perspective: quick, successful recruitment, and improved expectations within the squad (notably signing Grealish, Dewsbury-Hall).

    "In only one year since the Friedkin Group took over, not even that since David Moyes took the helm, Everton have gone from a team that weren't really enjoyable to watch... to Evertonians actually go into the football match expecting, not even hoping anymore, expecting to be entertained with, with the quality players on show." — Leon Osman (19:36)

• Risks of Looking Back to Move Forward:
  • Was reappointing Moyes a risk? Most guests say no, citing his deep connection and ability to steady the club.

    "David Moyes for Everton's almost like your warm comfort blanket." — Paddy Boylan (11:29)

3. Club Hierarchy & Friedkin’s Multi-Club Model

Timestamps: 13:27–15:13

• Everton vs. Roma in the Friedkin Portfolio:
  • The owners claim both clubs are top priorities; time and simultaneous European qualification will be the real test.

    "The Friedkin Group will tell you that Everton and Roma are at the top of the tree together and there's no difference...So far they've invested in both clubs..." — Paddy Boylan (13:41)

4. Moyes’ Effect on Player Performance

Timestamps: 23:47–27:04

• Elevating Attacking Talent:
  • Moyes’ mix of belief, collective responsibility, and demand for effort impacts star players like Grealish and Dewsbury-Hall.

    "What he demands is that your level of effort doesn’t... The worst you’re going to give a David Moyes team is a six out of 10. You’re not going to be a drifter." — Leon Osman (24:12)

  • “Notable improvement in attitude and workrate from ‘luxury’ attacking players, who now contribute defensively—a key to results.”
• Dressing Room Accountability:
  • Moyes sets an environment for players to demand standards from one another.

    “He wants the players to demand it off each other... It's the players that start to demand it of each other. And that just brings a different level of feeling within a squad." — Leon Osman (30:29)

5. Notable Transfers & Individual Progress

Timestamps: 31:39–34:34

• Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s Evolution:
  • Finding his best form after leaving a crowded Chelsea, Dewsbury-Hall thrives with regular football and trust from Moyes.

    "He’s at that point in his career now where he sees himself as a senior player, sees himself as somebody who can contribute in a leadership sense and has kind of taken up that mantle with other players missing and really kicked on." — Paddy Boylan (32:06)

  • Injury absence noted as a major blow for Everton.

6. Stadium Move – Hill Dickinson Stadium

Timestamps: 41:08–46:33

• Atmosphere and Transition:
  • Unlike some stadium moves, Everton’s new home maintains energy and connection due to fan-centric design and location.

    “This Everton Stadium... was designed in such a way so as to take advantage of that pretty fervent Everton support." — Paddy Boylan (41:33)

  • The importance of retained traditions, e.g., the ‘Toffee Lady,’ is highlighted.

    "It's one of Everton's most cherished traditions...the toffee lady returned after a pretty brief hiatus..." — Paddy Boylan (42:57)

  • Despite logistics “teething problems,” the spirit remains authentic and working-class.

7. Looking Ahead: Ambition Versus Self-Sufficiency

Timestamps: 46:33–50:55

• Financial Sustainability and European Football:
  • Everton must convert off-pitch progress into consistent European qualification to realize financial and sporting ambitions under the Friedkins.

    "Sustainability and self sufficiency is really quite important to the Friedkin Group...Their project is more thought through...But there is one similarity...European football is going to be really important." — Paddy Boylan (46:46)

• The Need for a Striker:
  • Greg O'Keefe draws parallels between historic and current squads—formidable but lacking a prolific centre forward.

    "Their top scorer is a midfielder again... I would challenge the structure...to up their game when it comes to January...Finding a goal scorer...would make a big difference." — Greg O'Keefe (50:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Moyes’ Impact:

  "I've never seen [Jack Grealish] work so hard defensively and then when you get what's quality on top, you're going to get the reward of that. And I see that with Everton at the moment."
  — Leon Osman (24:12)

• On the Club's New Stability:

  "A different club...a sea change really for a side that was imperilled financially and battling relegation every year to what is relative stability right now."
  — Paddy Boylan (03:45)

• On the Stadium Move:

  "It's still Everton. It's still got that working class roots...The atmosphere has been brilliant and there'll be more iconic moments as it builds its own identity."
  — Greg O’Keefe (44:39)

• Dressing Room Culture:

  "He wants the players to demand it off each other... The manager shouldn’t even need to dig you out at that point. The players know when somebody...hasn’t given their all."
  — Leon Osman (30:29)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Friedkin Group’s Impact / Ownership Stability: 03:33–06:27
• Moyes’ Return and Influence: 08:48–11:29, 19:36–22:04
• Multi-Club Context & Investment: 13:27–15:13
• Player Progress & Man Management: 23:47–27:04, 31:39–34:34
• Stadium Transition: 41:08–46:33
• Financial Sustainability & Next Steps: 46:33–50:55

Conclusion

The episode gives a comprehensive, optimistic portrait of a rejuvenated Everton under US ownership, emphasizing newfound financial and cultural stability, astute management from David Moyes, and a promising squad. Yet, it tempers expectations with realism over the challenges still to be tackled: squad improvements—especially up front—and the need to translate off-field ambition into sustainable, consistent sporting achievement.

Final Quote:

"Let's see how Everton end up at the end of the season." — Ayo Akimwaleere (37:30)