Moyes says Everton contract talks have stalled since Friedkin Group put club up for sale

David Moyes has admitted that talks over a new Everton contract have gone quiet after owners The Friedkin Group announced last week they were exploring the sale of their controlling interest in the Merseyside club.

The Everton manager is in the final year of his current deal at the Hill Dickinson Stadium and, speaking at a press conference, acknowledged that progress on fresh terms has slowed amid the uncertainty surrounding the club’s ownership.

“There’s been plenty of talks happening through the summer but maybe with the way things have gone at the moment, there’s maybe been a bit of a lull, trying to get things in order,” Moyes said. “But like I’ve said many times, it’s not the most important thing for me. I just want to keep trying to drive Everton on and build them up, and see if we can continue to improve.”

Moyes returned to Everton in January 2025, initially tasked with steering the club away from relegation in their final season at Goodison Park. He succeeded, and guided them to a 13th-place finish last term before the move to their new ground.

The early signs this season have been encouraging. Everton are unbeaten in the Premier League after six games and sit fifth in the table, form that gives Moyes little reason to be distracted by the contract situation.

Next up for the Toffees is a home fixture against Chelsea on Saturday, a match Moyes is approaching with quiet confidence. “Anytime I’ve played Chelsea, it’s always been a good game. It was always tough,” he said. “But we will do our best. We’re in quite a good place. We’ve been playing well ourselves.”

Whether the ownership picture clarifies in time to resolve Moyes’s future before his contract expires remains to be seen, but the manager appears focused on results rather than negotiations for now.