Everton make special request to Premier League to play final game AWAY from Goodison Park as final visitors revealed
PREM chiefs agreed to an Everton request that they play AWAY on the final weekend of next season.
Toffees bosses urged the Prem to ensure their final game at Goodison before the move to Bramley Moore Dock was on the penultimate weekend.
All clubs have the right to make such pleas, with Spurs also playing their final game at White Hart Lane in 2017 – a 2-1 win over Manchester United – the weekend before the end of the campaign.
Everton argued that if their season ended at Goodison on the last weekend the occasion would potentially be overshadowed by events at the top and bottom of the table.
And the request was granted, with Everton finishing the season at Newcastle on May 25.
It means the home game with Southampton the previous weekend will bring down the curtain on 133 years of Goodison history.
Everton will be aiming to mark the occasion with a grand farewell and ceremony.
The Toffees’ new stadium is costing £760million and will be one of the top arenas in the country.
It will hold over 52,000 fans — 12,000 more than Goodison.
And supporters have been eagerly anticipating its completion ever since work began in 2021.
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Meanwhile, Everton have agreed a record multi-year kit deal with Castore to be their kit supplies from next season.
The agreement will better the £38m four-year deal with Hummel which expired this month.
The Toffees are strapped for cash after the collapse of Everton owner Farhad Moshiri’s £600m takeover talks with controversial US company 777 Partners.
And it means star players could end up being sold to keep things afloat.
Jarrad Branthwaite is a top target for Manchester United and has already been the subject of a failed £35m bid.
Everton rate the England defender at closer to £80m and could be open to doing business at the right price.
Premier League sides deducted points and others at risk
Nottingham Forest
Deducted four points during the 2023-24 season for breaching Premier League spending limit by £34.563m. Failed in their appeal with decision upheld.
Everton
Initial 10-point deduction for 2021-22 Premier League breaches reduced to six points on appeal. Were deducted a further two points later in the 2023-24 season. Appealed, but since withdrawn following Prem survival.
Sheffield United
Hit with a two-point deduction for their finances during the 2022-23 EFL season. Will begin the 2024-25 Championship season on -2 points following their relegation from the Prem.
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Manchester City
Etihad club emphatically denies the 115 allegations laid against them in February 2023. The lengthy Commission case has been scheduled to start in October or November but a final decision is not expected until March or April 2025.
Chelsea
Blues chiefs flagged up illicit payments made to agents and others during the Roman Abramovich era. Fined £8.6m by Uefa but still to be formally charged by the Prem despite an ongoing investigation.
Leicester
Foxes breached Prem PSR loss limits last season but did not have to report their 2022-23 accounts until this month because of their relegation. That puts the timetable back and means that they will probably face a Prem points deduction for the 2024-25 season following their return to the top flight.
Everton (again)
The Toffees are again at risk of breaking PSR rules and are in a race against time to raise funds and balance the books. Not only could that lead to another charge but also administration. That would lead to an automatic nine-point deduction for the 2024/25 season.