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Everton have spent a staggering 123 seasons in English football’s top division—more than any other club in history—yet they are emphatically not considered part of the modern Premier League "Big Six." No, the short answer is plain: Everton are excluded today. While the Toffees boast nine league titles and an unbroken top-flight stay dating back to 1954, financial disparities, commercial reach, and modern competitive standards have permanently locked them out of the contemporary elite bracket dominated by wealthier rivals.

The Forgotten Foundations: How Everton Led the Original Elite

Long before the phrase "Big Six" dominated tactical podcasts and television sub-graphics, the power structure of English football looked fundamentally different. Back in the late 1980s, the game was ruled by the original "Big Five"—an exclusive cartel comprising Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, and Everton. These five clubs held the levers of power, dictating broadcast negotiations and eventually orchestrating the breakaway from the Football League in 1992. Everton was not riding anyone's coat-tails either; Howard Kendall’s formidable side had swept domestic league titles in 1985 and 1987 while lifting European silverware.

However, the dawn of the Premier League era triggered a slow tectonic shift. As television revenue exploded globally, commercial clout superseded heritage. Chelsea unlocked unprecedented foreign wealth in 2003, and Manchester City transformed overnight following major ownership shifts in 2008. These financial injections shattered the old hierarchy. Everton, burdened by cautious ownership and stagnant revenue streams, could not match the escalating arms race. By the early 2010s, the media solidified the "Big Six" nomenclature to reflect six financial superpowers: United, City, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, and Tottenham. Everton, despite their grand ancestry, were left stranded in the historical dust.

The Financial and Competitive Mechanics Behind the Elite Barrier

Understanding why Everton fails to qualify for Big Six status requires looking past trophies and examining modern economic engine rooms. The modern elite operates through a self-reinforcing flywheel. First, superior global fanbases generate staggering commercial partnerships and matchday yields, widening the revenue gap between them and the remaining fourteen Premier League clubs.

Second, this overwhelming turnover funds astronomical player wage bills and transfer budgets without triggering severe financial penalty thresholds. Richer clubs effortlessly absorb multi-million pound transfer flops, whereas a single failed marquee signing can paralyze Everton's squad assembly for years.

Third, consistent European qualification—specifically Champions League group-stage participation—yields guaranteed tens of millions annually. That cash flow pays for elite scouting networks, world-class coaching setups, and state-of-the-art training facilities. It attracts world-class talent who refuse to consider non-European contenders.

Finally, broadcasting giants prioritize scheduling matches involving these six brand names, amplifying their international visibility and securing lucrative sponsorship extensions worldwide. This continuous cycle converts raw capital into sustained performance on the pitch. Because Everton lacks the global commercial footprint and revenue streams of Spurs or Chelsea, they cannot breach this financial firewall. They remain trapped in a lower economic tier, constantly punching upward against overwhelming structural odds.

The Moshiri Era: A Cautionary Tale of Misspent Capital

If financial investment alone could buy entry into the elite, Farhad Moshiri’s arrival at Everton in 2016 should have sealed their induction. The investor poured over £500 million into squad reconstruction, attempting to leapfrog Spurs and Arsenal in one decisive stroke. High-profile managers were hired, massive transfer fees were dropped on international talent, and wage structures were blown wide open.

The result was catastrophic mismanagement rather than elite status. Misaligned recruitment, erratic managerial turnover, and inflated wages crippled the club's balance sheet without producing top-four finishes. Rather than challenging the hierarchy, Everton slid down the table, eventually incurring severe financial points deductions and fighting harrowing relegation battles. Moving into their state-of-the-art stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock offers long-term infrastructural hope, but the pitch performance proved a brutal reality: reckless spending without elite operational infrastructure leads to financial instability, not Big Six status.

What experts say about it

Football analysts and financial experts generally agree that Everton currently sits outside the modern Premier League "Big Six." While sports historians emphasize Everton's rich legacy as a founding member of the original "Big Five" alongside Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, and Tottenham in the late 1980s, the modern definition relies heavily on global commercial revenue and consistent European qualification. Leading football economists point out that while Everton boasts the historic pedigree and passionate supporter base of an elite institution, a decade of financial mismanagement, managerial instability, and mid-table finishes widened the structural gap between the Toffees and the highest earning clubs. However, industry pundits frequently classify Everton alongside Aston Villa and Newcastle United as traditional giants capable of disrupting the elite order, particularly as the move to the state-of-the-art Bramley-Moore Dock stadium promises a massive increase in commercial and matchday revenue.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Everton historically considered one of the premier clubs in English football?

Everton spent more seasons in the top flight than any other team in English football history, winning nine First Division titles and five FA Cups. During their golden era in the 1980s, the Toffees formed part of the original "Big Five" that drove the founding of the modern Premier League. Their vast historical legacy, pioneering innovations, and deep-rooted cultural importance established Everton as a genuine giant of the English game.

What does Everton need to reliably bridge the gap with the current Big Six?

Bridging the structural gap requires sustained European qualification, astute player recruitment, and strict adherence to Financial Fair Play and Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The crucial catalyst for Everton is their transition to the new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium, which significantly raises commercial revenue and matchday income. Combined with sound executive management and long-term tactical vision, Everton possesses the institutional weight to regularly compete against the established elite.

Will Everton's new stadium and deep historical legacy empower them to break back into football's elite, or has financial disparity permanently closed the door on traditional giants?