The company of Russian billionaire Alisher Usmanov has bought the rights to the name of the stadium of English soccer club Everton for £ 30 million. The new arena the club plans to build in three years after receiving permission for this

The company of Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov #7 USM Holdings has bought the rights to the name of the new stadium of the English soccer club “Everton” for £30 million, it was reported to shareholders by the general director of “Everton” Denise Barrett-Baxendale, said on the website of the club. She added that the club is “cautiously optimistic” about the stadium and is ready to build it within three years after getting permission from the authorities.

“Research has shown that the stadium will bring £1 billion to our [British] economy, <…> create 15,000 jobs and attract 1.4 million additional visitors to the city,” Barrett-Baxendale revealed. She called the stadium “a key strategic goal, <…> which will create many opportunities for commercial growth.” The club plans to open a new arena on the site of a dilapidated marina in north Liverpool.

The main owner of Everton is Usmanov’s business partner Farhad Moshiri, who is ranked 1227 on Forbes’ global list with a fortune of $2 billion. The businessmen have known each other since the early 1990s, and together bought shares in Arsenal London in 2007. In 2016, Usmanov bought out Moshiri’s stake, and Moshiri used part of the proceeds to buy a 49.9% stake in Everton. In 2017, Everton signed a five-year sponsorship contract with USM and a copyright agreement for the name of the training ground.

In 2018, Usmanov sold his stake in Arsenal. In an interview with the Financial Times published in early January, the billionaire said he would gladly invest in Everton if offered. “I’m thinking about my investment in this club. I can’t give up Arsenal, I won’t leave it as a fan. But if I join Everton, I will wear its jersey, because I am a professional,” Usmanov said.

Everton’s home stadium since 1892 is Goodison Park, which seats 39,572 spectators. The club has won the English championship nine times and the domestic cup five times. Now it ranks 11th in the English Premier League with 28 points.