June 23 – Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, has finalised a £200 million deal to buy John Textor’s 42.9% stake in Crystal Palace — a move designed to bring clarity to the Premier League club’s ownership structure ahead of their participation in next season’s UEFA Europa League.
The transaction, which is subject to Premier League approval, marks a significant reshuffle at the top of the Selhurst Park club and ends Textor’s financial and operational involvement. It also removes a major regulatory roadblock, with UEFA rules prohibiting two clubs under the same control from competing in the same European competition.
Textor’s multi-club group, Eagle Football Holdings, owns 77% of French side Olympique Lyonnais, who – like Palace – have qualified for the 2025–26 Europa League. Under UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, only one of the two clubs would be allowed to compete. Lyon earned their spot via a higher league finish (6th in Ligue 1), while Palace qualified by winning the FA Cup — but missed a March 1st deadline to restructure their shareholder model to comply with UEFA rules due to the unexpected nature of their qualification.
With no solution in place by that deadline, Palace’s Europa League spot was at serious risk. Sources say Palace argued their qualification was earned independently and that Textor only had limited voting rights. But UEFA remained unconvinced – especially with Nottingham Forest, who themselves missed out on Europa League qualification on the final day of the season, writing to UEFA to express concerns.
The sale to Johnson – a high-profile but controversial figure in US sports and politics – now appears to satisfy UEFA’s requirements. The deal will bring an end to Textor’s rocky relationship on the Palace board and remove any lingering doubt over the club’s European eligibility.
Johnson will join a board that includes Steve Parish and American investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer. Parish holds control of the board though only owns 10% of the club.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1750700096labto1750700096ofdlr1750700096owedi1750700096sni@g1750700096niwe.1750700096yrrah1750700096