Everton make £82m Goodison Park U-turn as iconic stadium gets new lease of life

Goodison Park has been granted a new lease of life after Everton decided against demolishing the stadium in favour of turning it into the home of the women's team. Everton will play their final match at Goodison this weekend against , but the 132-year-old ground will continue to host games after a major U-turn from the club.

The club had previously announced plans to knock down the stadium and embark upon a regeneration project on the site. Plans had been submitted to spend £82million turning the site into housing, a care home, shops and a park - but they will no longer go ahead.

The long-awaited takeover of Everton by the Friedkin Group in December prompted a re-think over Goodison and the club has now decided to hand it over to the women's side. They will swap their current home of Walton Hall Park for Goodison Park for the start of the 2025/26 season.

It means that, boasting an official capacity of 39,572, Goodison will become by far the largest dedicated home stadium of any side in the Women's Super League next season, while the ground will also host occasional academy matches too.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

The move is a big boost for Everton women and is a sign of the American owners’ big ambitions for the club as a whole. A flurry of signings for Everton women were sanctioned by TFG in January and they have tied down manager Brian Sorensen and assistant Stephen Neligan to new deals.

The news will also be welcomed by the broader fan base as it confirms that Goodison Park - the club's home for so long - has been spared demolition.

“We know how treasured Goodison is, not only to every Evertonian, but to the game itself, and being able to keep such an iconic stadium at the heart of the legacy project is something that has been incredibly important to us," chief executive Angus Kinnear said.

"From next season, we are proud to say our women will have an unrivalled permanent home in the WSL – another statement of intent as we look to build the foundations that will help us challenge for trophies.

“The women’s game has grown significantly in recent years, and we believe that growth will continue and accelerate. We’re under no illusions; there are obstacles we need to overcome to make this a success both practically and economically, but we’re confident that we will overcome those challenges."

Everton captain Megan Finnigan said: “This move is a testament to where the women’s game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading. Goodison is a magical stadium with a deep heritage and close ties to the local community.

"Leading the team out for that first home match of next season will be nothing short of a career highlight – and the prospect of what Everton Women can become with such an iconic ground to call our home is hugely exciting.”