Everton Football Club has announced that Goodison Park will become the permanent home of Everton Women from the 2025/26 season.
The historic move will transform one of the UK's oldest football stadiums into the country's first major stadium dedicated solely to a women's team.
This follows the men's team's relocation to their new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock.
The decision follows an in-depth review of the Goodison Legacy project by The Friedkin Group since their takeover in December.
Everton Women will move into Goodison Park next season
Reuters
The American owners decided that football must be kept at the heart of Everton's community after examining the future of the historic ground.
The move addresses Everton Women's rapid growth and need for a larger venue than Walton Hall Park.
Phase one of the transition includes stadium upgrades to enhance the matchday experience before the start of the season.
The relocation will generate economic opportunities for local businesses through matchday footfall.
Goodison will also stage selected Academy matches and expand Everton in the Community's L4 campus.
Walton Hall Park will continue serving grassroots and development programmes.
Angus Kinnear, CEO of Everton, said: "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.
"From next season, we are proud to say our women will have an unrivalled permanent home in the WSL."
Megan Finnigan, captain of Everton Women, added: "This move is a testament to where the women's game is right now and, more importantly, where it is heading.
Goodison Park will not be demolished as a result of the decision to allow the women's team to move in
Reuters
"Leading the team out for that first home match of next season will be nothing short of a career highlight."
Goodison Park has a rich history with women's football, having hosted a landmark match 105 years ago between Dick, Kerr Ladies and St Helens Ladies.
This fixture held the attendance record for a women's game for 103 years, making the stadium's new role particularly meaningful.
Sunday's game against Southampton will mark Goodison's last Premier League fixture.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
The decision will transform one of the UK's oldest football stadiums into the country's first major stadium dedicated solely to a women's team
Reuters
The Friedkin Group's commitment to women's football has been demonstrated through their success with AS Roma, where the women's team won their first Serie A title in 2023 and secured the domestic double in 2024.
The owners have already made investments in Everton Women's players and staff, showing their ambition to create a team capable of challenging for honours.
Dave Kelly, Chair of the Everton Fan Advisory Board, said: "Goodison Park holds the most special place in the hearts of all Evertonians. It has been a glorious home for the men's team since 1892, and for it now to be transformed into a home for Everton Women is something I know many if not every Blue will support."
