Everton have completed the purchase of Insight Sports after hiring its director to lead its data and analytics operation.
As revealed by Paddy Boyland in the Athletic, Chris Howarth has already joined Everton to lead their data team and the club has now completed the takeover of his company, Insight Sports.
Insight Sports has replaced Howarth with Dan Friedkin as the sole director of the company as it is folded into the Friedkin Group’s suite of clubs that includes Everton, Roma and AS Cannes.
The change of directorship was added to Companies House this month alongside new Articles of Association. They state that Friedkin: “holds, directly or indirectly, 75% or more of the shares in the company. The person has the right, directly or indirectly, to appoint or remove a majority of the
board of directors of the company. The person holds, directly or indirectly, 75% or more of the voting rights in the company.”
Howarth is the latest addition in a new, more cohesive recruitment and data operation at Everton overseen by new CEO Angus Kinnear.
While David Moyes will have final say over transfers, he will work with James Smith, who worked with Moyes at Everton and Manchester United and has joined from Manchester City to oversee player identification and recruitment.
Nick Hammond, hired by Kinnear after previously working with him at Leeds, will handle contract negotiations once talent has been identified.
Meanwhile, Insight Sports will be used to model data, identify talent and improve player development at the club. Chris Howarth will oversee this part of the new leadership team, while the Friedkins are likely to implement Insight Sport’s modelling across the group.