Everton have delivered a huge statement of intent ahead of their first Premier League game of the 2026/27 season against Crystal Palace unveiling a historic fan ownership scheme that hands power back to the Toffees faithful as the club begins a new era at their magnificent new home, Hill Dickinson Stadium.
The announcement comes just days before Everton’s opening fixture at the state-of-the-art 52,888-capacity stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, with excitement building across Merseyside.
In a move that has sent shockwaves through English football, the club announced “The Toffee Share” a groundbreaking initiative granting supporters binding voting rights on key club decisions, effective immediately.
The announcement makes Everton the first Premier League club to voluntarily cede decision-making power to its fanbase a bold statement of ambition as the club continues its journey under the ownership of The Friedkin Group, led by chairman Dan Friedkin, who have owned the club since 2024.
WHAT THE SCHEME MEANS FOR SUPPORTERS
Under the new initiative, which takes immediate effect:
· A Fan Advisory Board of three elected supporters will attend quarterly board meetings and hold binding votes on non-football operational matters, including:
· Ticket pricing structures for domestic and cup fixtures
· Final approval of annual kit designs
· Community investment and charity partnerships
· A £2 million ring-fenced fund, drawn from the club’s commercial revenue, will be placed under fan-led management to finance community projects across Merseyside.
The scheme will be formally ratified during Saturday’s Premier League opener against Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium, where a giant screen message will address the Toffees faithful.
DAVID MOYES: ‘A NEW DAWN’
An excited David Moyes, speaking just days before the new season begins, described the announcement as the perfect way to build on the progress made at the club.
“This is a new dawn for Everton Football Club,” Moyes said.
“We’re moving into a magnificent new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, and now we’re taking this huge step forward. Our fans are the heartbeat of this club, and giving them a genuine voice in how we move forward is exactly what this great club deserves. This is just the beginning.”
Moyes, who is currently in charge of Everton, is understood to have been fully behind the proposal from the moment it was presented to him.
“I know what this club means to people,” Moyes added.
“This isn’t just about one season. This is about building something that will last. And having the fans alongside us, with a real seat at the table, makes that vision even stronger. This weekend, we make history together in our new home.”
CHAIRMAN DAN FRIEDKIN: ‘FANS AT THE HEART OF OUR FUTURE’
Chairman Dan Friedkin framed the decision as a defining moment for the club’s future under his ownership.
“This is a historic day for Everton Football Club,” Friedkin said.
“Since The Friedkin Group took ownership in 2024, we have been committed to building a sustainable future for this great club. Today, we take another huge step forward by giving our fans a formal role in shaping our future not as spectators, but as partners. As we prepare for our first full season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, this is the perfect time to begin this new chapter. This weekend, as we kick off the 2026/27 season against Crystal Palace, that new chapter truly begins.”
Friedkin, who completed his takeover of Everton in 2024, has consistently emphasised the importance of fan engagement throughout his ownership.
A NEW ERA AT HILL DICKINSON STADIUM
The announcement comes as Everton prepare to begin their first full season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the stunning new 52,888-capacity venue at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The stadium, which opened during the 2025/26 season following a naming rights deal with Liverpool-based law firm Hill Dickinson, represents a new chapter in the club’s storied history. The move marks the end of an era at Goodison Park, which had been Everton’s home since 1892, and the beginning of an exciting new future for the Toffees.
With its state-of-the-art facilities and increased capacity, Hill Dickinson Stadium is set to become one of the Premier League’s most iconic venues.
The Friedkin Group, led by Dan Friedkin, have pledged to invest in the squad, the club’s infrastructure, and most importantly, the relationship between the club and its supporters.
FAN REACTION: ‘THIS IS OUR CLUB’
Within minutes of the official statement, the hashtag #ToffeeShare exploded across Merseyside and among Everton’s global supporter base.
Alan Johnson, 63, a lifelong Evertonian from Walton, told our reporter outside Hill Dickinson Stadium:
“I’ve been following this club for over 50 years. I’ve seen the highs the title wins, the FA Cups, the European nights. I’ve seen the lows The near-relegations, the uncertainty. Leaving Goodison was emotional, but walking into this stadium? It takes your breath away. 52,888 fans, a brand new home, and now this? This is the club saying: ‘We belong to you.’ Since Dan Friedkin took over in 2024, things have been moving in the right direction. Now with Moyes and this announcement, I can’t wait for the 2026/27 season to begin. Bring on Palace!”
Michelle O’Brien, 34, from Kirkdale, who travels to every home game with her father, said:
“Hill Dickinson Stadium is incredible it’s going to be a fortress. And this announcement? This is exactly the kind of bold thinking we’ve come to expect under Dan Friedkin’s ownership. He’s been fantastic since 2024, and now the fans are part of it too. I can’t wait for the season opener against Palace. What a time to be a Blue!”
“A huge move from the club ahead of the 2026/27 season opener and what a stadium to start it in! Hill Dickinson Stadium is going to be special. Dan Friedkin has been brilliant since taking over in 2024, and now giving the fans a voice is the right thing to do. Bring on Palace! 💙”
The Everton Supporters Trust called the move “a landmark moment for the club,” with chair David France adding:
“This is exactly the kind of progressive thinking we want to see under Dan Friedkin’s ownership. The Toffee Share is a genuine step forward and a sign that the club truly values its supporters. As we begin our first full season at Hill Dickinson Stadium, the 2026/27 campaign starts with a new era.”
A spokesperson for the Football Supporters Association added:
“Everton have set a marker here. This is a positive step for fan engagement in English football, and we hope other clubs will follow their lead.”
WHAT THIS MEANS FOR THE 2026/27 SEASON
With just days to go until the Premier League campaign begins and Crystal Palace waiting at Hill Dickinson Stadium excitement is building across Merseyside.
Everton are aiming for a top-half finish, with the manager having strengthened the squad ahead of the opener.
“We’re ready,” Moyes said.
“The energy around this club right now is incredible. A magnificent new stadium, a great squad, a clear vision, and now the fans are right there with us not just in the stands, but in the decision-making too. This is a special time to be a Blue. This weekend, we make history at Hill Dickinson Stadium.”
One fan, Peter Reid, 46, from Crosby, summed up the mood
“A new season, a stunning new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, great owners in Dan Friedkin, a top manager in Moyes, and now the fans have a real say all ahead of the first game of the 2026/27 campaign. What more could we ask for? I can’t wait to walk into Hill Dickinson Stadium against Palace. This is going to be a season to remember.”
The club has confirmed that a full governance document outlining the scheme’s legal framework, voting thresholds, and election procedures will be published within 14 days.
For now, all eyes turn to Hill Dickinson Stadium this weekend where Everton will face Crystal Palace with a renewed sense of purpose, a manager who knows the club inside out, chairman Dan Friedkin at the helm, and a fanbase empowered like never before.