Everton's Fan Engagement Rated Premier League's Best By Leading Index

Everton are the Premier League leaders in the latest Fan Engagement Index.

Only three top flight clubs have made this year's Fan Engagement Index top 20, but the Blues lead the way with a top 10 placing.

Now in its seventh year, the index – delivered by Think Fan Engagement – provides the only objective measurement of fan engagement in English men’s football.

Benchmarked against other clubs, it recognises and rewards those who practise good fan engagement, with Everton climbing from 13th in 2023/24 to this year’s league-high placing of 10th.

Fan Engagement Index creator Kevin Rye said: "Everton were recognised for their outstanding progress in engagement which sets them apart from most of their rivals, against a backdrop of new owners and the move to Hill Dickinson Stadium from their beloved Goodison Park."

The Fan Engagement Index is independently created by assessing publicly available data via clubs, leagues and other websites and sources bringing together scores on the dialogue clubs have with supporters, their governance structures related to fan engagement as well as transparency with an overall score then provided.

Angus Kinnear, Everton’s Chief Executive Officer, who met with fan group representatives as one of his first priorities upon his appointment in May, said: “A Club is strongest when it listens, involves and evolves alongside its supporters. From helping shape the matchday experience to major moments like planning for and moving into our new stadium, our fans have contributed and participated, both through our regular meetings with formal fan representative groups, and through the feedback we gather from across our fanbase via regular surveys.

“Actively engaging with supporters will remain at the heart of our ethos as we move forward at Hill Dickinson Stadium, our new home which has been shaped by our fans to reflect their passion, pride and place at the centre of our Club’s story.”

Everton’s fan engagement structure includes regular dialogue with groups including the Everton Fan Advisory Board - the first independent Fan Advisory Board to be established in the Premier League - the Everton Fans’ Forum, a Junior Fans’ Forum, the Everton Heritage Society and four Supporters’ Club committees representing Blues domestically and from around the world. 

Brighton and Brentford are the only two other Premier League clubs in the Index's top 20, while Manchester United earned a Merit award, finishing 22nd.

Kevin Rye added: “Now, more than ever, clubs across the football pyramid need to do more to engage with their most important stakeholders – the fans – to ensure that there is an understanding and adherence to their strategy, their culture and their mission.

“We have seen that English football is now a global phenomenon right the way down to the National League and the clubs that do well invest in engagement with consistent commitment from staff, owners and fans across the country to make it work.”