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"Everton are set to announce a new investor, with the American billionaire Christopher Sarofim joining their ownership group. The 62-year-old fund manager is also a minority shareholder of NFL franchise Houston Texans.

Sarofim is understood to have agreed to join Everton’s ownership group, Roundhouse Capital, and will be given an observer position on the football club’s board. Everton will remain under the day-to-day control of The Friedkin Group (TFG), who bought the club from Farhad Moshiri last December.

Sarofim’s family company, Sarofim International Management, manages assets worth an estimated $31bn (£23bn) and Everton’s owners have recruited him with a view to giving them access to broader sources of funding. His personal wealth is reported to be more than $3.7bn. His money is believed to be going into Roundhouse rather than the club. No new shares will be issued at this stage.


Sarofim is the first new investor to join Everton’s ownership group, but more are expected. TFG is understood to be targeting investors with specific skillsets and contacts rather than celebrity investors to attract attention in a model favoured by other American owners.

Real Madrid’s Luka Modric bought a stake in Swansea City this month, the NFL star JJ Watt owns shares in Burnley, and Leeds have big-name minority investors including Will Ferrell, Russell Crowe, Michael Phelps and Jordan Spieth."