Crystal Palace Ownership Restructure

Crystal Palace part-owner John Textor has reached an agreement to sell his 43% stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, a move that could resolve UEFA concerns around multi-club ownership ahead of the 2025/26 Europa League.

The transaction believed to be valued at around £190 million is subject to Premier League approval, including the standard owners’ and directors’ test. Johnson, whose net worth is estimated at £6.8 billion by the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, is expected to complete the purchase via a rapid capital transfer, a factor reportedly critical to the deal’s favourability over other interested parties.

Textor’s stake in Palace is held via Eagle Football Holdings, which also owns French Ligue 1 club Olympique Lyonnais. Both clubs have qualified for next season’s Europa League, raising red flags under UEFA rules that prohibit individuals from exerting control or influence over more than one club in the same competition.

While Textor has previously argued that he does not have operational control at Palace holding only 25% of board voting rights alongside co-owners Steve Parish, Josh Harris, and David Blitzer—UEFA’s Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) is currently reviewing the matter. Lyon’s higher league finish gives them precedence under current regulations.

Palace had the option of placing Textor’s shares into a blind trust to comply with UEFA rules but missed the deadline. The sale to Johnson, however, could now serve as the cleanest resolution and may strengthen the club’s case for inclusion in the Europa League, marking what would be its first participation in the competition.

Johnson, a former U.S. ambassador to the UK and long-time owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, attended Palace’s Premier League fixture against Nottingham Forest in early May. His entry into Premier League ownership follows a growing trend of American investment in English football.

While the sale is still pending regulatory sign-off, it introduces a significant ownership shift that could have immediate sporting and commercial implications for Crystal Palace, particularly if it clears the path for European competition participation in 2025/26.

UEFA is expected to finalise its decision on Palace’s eligibility before the end of June.