Everton has formally taken control of its new home at Bramley-Moore Dock.

Executive Chairman Marc Watts and Interim CEO Colin Chong joined Laing O'Rourke Project Director Gareth Jacques for a ceremonial handover of the stadium.

The handover marks the completion of the construction phase, which began three-and-a-half years ago.

Everton will now oversee a six-month fit-out phase, with interior designers, tradespeople, and audio-visual engineers completing the stadium's bars, restaurants, and other facilities.

Laing O'Rourke will maintain a presence at the stadium in the early months of 2025 to ensure quality standards are met.

The Friedkin Group, Everton's new owners, has financially supported the stadium development.

Everton’s Executive Chairman Marc Watts said: "I feel privileged to be here today to be part of the handover of this magnificent stadium in this stunning, unrivalled location. It is an illustrious moment in the history of Everton and marks a new era for the Club on many levels. The stadium will play a key role in supporting our commercial vision for the Club – hosting events and activities all-year round - but first and foremost, I have no doubt that it will be a venue that every Evertonian will be proud to call home."

A series of three test events will take place in 2025 before the Club stages its first competitive fixture at the stadium at the start of the 2025/26 season. More information on how Evertonians can qualify for and access the test events will be released in the New Year.

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Everton Interim CEO Colin Chong added: "Our thanks go to Laing O’Rourke, their workforce and extensive supply chain, along with the many people who have helped bring our vision to fruition.

"Everton’s passionate supporters deserve immense praise for investing fully in this journey, right from the initial consultation phases and throughout the three-and-a-half-year build process.

"Construction has not been without its challenges, but we have remained on schedule despite a worldwide pandemic and a war in Ukraine, which threatened to affect the delivery of materials and destabilised financial markets.

"That is a testament to everyone involved and I am sure I speak for all our staff and supporters by saying we are absolutely delighted to take control of a site which will soon become one the best football stadiums in world football.

"I often describe our new home as Liverpool’s Fourth Grace, and I truly believe this magnificent stadium is one that the whole city can be proud of."

The Club formally took possession of the site on Monday, 26 July 2021, with construction partners Laing O’Rourke immediately working on putting in place welfare facilities for their 12,000 construction staff.

Having represented Laing O’Rouke on site from the outset, Project Director Gareth Jacques said: "This is a momentous day for my team, for Laing O’Rourke, for our supply chain, all the design consultants and everyone involved with the project.

"We’ve spent 178 weeks on-site, and a year-and-half before that in pre-construction and planning. All those people, everyone from Everton and all the fans who have been ardently watching the progress have all been a big part of this, so to deliver it, as we have, on time, is phenomenal.

"The team has taken an old disused dock and created what is, I believe, the best stadium in this country, so I couldn’t be prouder."

Everton Stadium, recognised as the largest single-site private sector development in the country, will contribute an estimated £1.3bn to the UK economy and attract 1.4m visitors to the city of Liverpool, annually.

The scheme, which has led to the creation of thousands of jobs and forms part of Peel L&P’s £5bn Liverpool Waters project in the city’s Northern Docks, will act as a catalyst for more than £650m worth of accelerated regeneration directly benefiting the nearby Ten Streets development.