Everton hosts Roma friendly with Friedkin era in focus

A behind the scenes look at Everton's landmark Roma friendly and the mood around a new ownership chapter.

Everton marks Friedkin era with Moshiri present at Hill Dickinson Stadium

Everton ended their pre-season with a 1-0 defeat to Roma at Hill Dickinson Stadium, but the day carried more weight than the score. The Friedkin Group’s Dan Friedkin and his son Ryan attended their first Everton match since the takeover was completed, joining former owner Farhad Moshiri and stadium architect Dan Meis as part of a high profile audience. Tens of thousands packed the venue for a historic day in a year of change and renewal for the club.

Off the field the sense of momentum was clear. Thierno Barry flashed glimpses of flair, and new signing Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall spoke about settling in and fighting for a place. A potential worry emerged on the health front when Vitalii Mykolenko left the pitch early with an injury ahead of the season opener, though the left back walked from the stadium unaided. The club has cover in Adam Aznou, but the 19-year-old remains relatively inexperienced. Dewsbury-Hall’s reaction to the stadium reception also captured the mood in the mixed zone as Everton still charts a course through a rebuilding phase.

The scene underlined a broader shift. Publicly visible ownership momentum and a staged return to a traditional home soil create a new narrative for Everton, one that combines financial backing with a renewed sense of ambition. The presence of Friedkin and Moshiri signals a bridging of old and new eras, while the crowd’s energy highlights one of the club’s strongest assets: its support. Yet the early-season injury risk and the ongoing need to integrate new signings remind readers that change is not a guarantee of immediate success.

Looking ahead, the club faces the practical tests of budget and balance. Talk around potential targets, the pace of recruitment, and how to sustain momentum without overextending resources will shape early assessments of the Friedkin era. The next few weeks will reveal whether sunny optimism from this day translates into steady, on-field progress and long-term stability.

Highlights

The coming weeks will test whether this moment can translate into lasting momentum.