Everton's owners, The Friedkin Group, has officially pulled the plug on a deal that would have sold 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong to Nottingham Forest, supposedly following a massive wave of fan opposition.
According to reports from The Athletic, Nottingham Forest had advanced to late-stage discussions over a transfer package worth £40M plus a future sell-on clause. However, Everton’s board — led by Dan Friedkin and The Friedkin Group — made a unanimous decision over the weekend to keep the academy graduate on Merseyside, viewing him as a vital piece of the club's long-term project.
The Transfer Saga and Fan Reaction
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Advanced Talks: According to David Ornstein, Forest had emerged as serious suitors on Saturday morning, bidding to make a shock permanent move for the England youth international midfielder.
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Supporter Backlash: News of the potential departure triggered immediate and vocal anger across the Everton fanbase. Travelling Blues at the Vitality Stadium chanted Armstrong's name continuously throughout Saturday's 1-1 draw against Bournemouth, explicitly demanding the hierarchy refuse any deal.
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Ownership Intervention: David Ornstien now claims the fan reaction served as a major factor in the decision to U-turn on the deal. Talks held late into Saturday resulted in The Friedkin Group pulling out of negotiations and reaffirming Armstrong's status as a core homegrown asset.
David Moyes on Matchday
Manager David Moyes addressed the situation after Saturday's match at Bournemouth, reiterating his desire to retain the squad's best talents and acknowledging the voice of the supporters:
"You always have to consider supporters; supporters aren't always wrong... I don't think we can afford to lose any players, certainly not our better ones."
Despite the off-pitch noise, it seemed a very deliberate act under the circumstances for David Moyes to select Armstrong in midfield against Bournemouth, despite Ornstein himself saying earlier that Armstrong would not be in the Everton squad. Armstrong put in an energetic 87-minute shift before James Tarkowski bagged a late stoppage-time equalizer to rescue a point for Everton.
Reality Bites for TFG?
The decision to retain Armstrong marks an important moment for The Friedkin Group early in their custodianship of Everton Football Club. The prospect that they would even consider selling one of Everton's brightest homegrown talents only intensified a deep distrust that has been building for a long time among many in the fanbase.
The Friedkin Group has been noticeable in its perplexing absence from any Everton game since the financially critical takeover from Farhad Moshiri's disastrous regime.
By finally rejecting Forest's £40M proposal, the board may be hoping to send a message that elite academy progression takes priority over short-term financial gains as the club builds towards its future. But the very thought that such a move was seriously considered in any event will remain a serious concern for many Evertonians.
Quotes sourced from The Athletic [£]
Reader Comments (15)
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2 Posted 30/08/2026 at 10:58:08
He should have just had a nice season bedding in to life as a Premier League footballer now... unless he turns out to be the next Messi -- God help him!
3 Posted 30/08/2026 at 11:13:11
As for Tete he knocked us back last season, so why go for him again, he is another year older and injury prone
4 Posted 30/08/2026 at 11:17:24
5 Posted 30/08/2026 at 11:20:50
Admittedly every player in every Club has a price but unless we are close to falling foul again financially we have to do everything we can to keep our better present and future players
Might be the right time to put young Armstrong on a deal more in line with other team mates.
I suspect he’s a long way below Hackney, George, Dibbling, Rohl and Johnstone
6 Posted 30/08/2026 at 11:48:22
The fact the Armstrong sale was even being considered by them has left a toxic atmosphere with the fans. Dan Friedman needs to stand up and be recorded saying we will not be selling our best talent... but they won't give guarantees.
The great thing about this sorry episode is that the Evertonians have stood up to the owners and made their feelings clear -- no fan support, no club! is something TFG need to understand and quickly. Well done to the supporters, the new owners are going to be scrutinised very closely and be kept in close sight.
7 Posted 30/08/2026 at 12:41:18
8 Posted 30/08/2026 at 12:45:39
They didn't view him as a vital piece of a long term project until the fan backlash yesterday.
Bollocks, they caved under pressure
9 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:03:24
Sod’s Law says that Armstrong gets crocked against United and doesn’t play again til March!
10 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:04:44
Selling Ndiaye today shows they have no ambition in moving us forward, and reportedly trying to sign the Fulham reserve, says everything about Kinnear.
11 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:14:26
12 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:26:50
They’ve shown that they just don’t understand the fundamental basics of Everton Football Club. They’ve shown that they’re nowhere near as intelligent or competent as we’d hoped. They’ve shown that they have no real plan and seem to have a ‘club policy’ completely at odds with the manager's skill-set.
Morale has been low all summer and is getting worse.
13 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:40:02
14 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:40:50
Wanted to take the money for Armstrong, now looking to move Ndiaye on, why after barely spending a penny do we have to sell anyone ?
We should be buying Richalison, keeping all our best players and cashing in on fringe players like Keane, Patterson and Beto in order to compete.
Unfortunately the owners do not give a fuck about us, much more interested in Roma.
15 Posted 30/08/2026 at 13:50:18
Let’s just hope the financial situation isn’t as bleak as some have said or we may just have postponed the inevitable, albeit not for a handful of beans to Forest.
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1 Posted 30/08/2026 at 10:57:21
I am not a fan of Moyes but I also have to thank him for standing with us and showing his clear frustration when answering the questions at his post-match press conference. It was clear that he was standing over his sword when he made his comments and I felt that he was about to distance himself from the hierarchy.
Maybe I've read it wrong but I think they were definitely going to sanction Harrison's departure... but our fans, at the 11th hour, changed our board's minds by making their point heard.
Kinnear is clearly out if step with Moyes and I suspect we have not heard the last of this. Chuffed to bits Harrison Armstrong is staying. A future captain of the club in the making. Feels like a watershed. UTFTs