June 20 – Crystal Palace part-owner John Textor is in advanced talks to sell his 43% stake in the club to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson, as pressure mounts to resolve UEFA’s multi-club ownership concerns ahead of next season’s European competitions.
The potential sale – understood to be valued around £190 million – is being seen as a necessary step to clear Palace for European football, following their surprise FA Cup triumph which secured a continental berth for 2025/26. However, Palace’s participation remains in doubt due to Textor’s simultaneous involvement with French club Olympique Lyonnais through his Eagle Football Holdings group.
UEFA rules prohibit two clubs under shared ownership or influence from competing in the same tournament, and with both Palace and Lyon qualifying, compliance has become a pressing issue for the Premier League side.
Sources close to the negotiations say Johnson is currently leading a three-party race to acquire Eagle Football’s stake. While a final agreement has yet to be signed off, insiders suggest the deal is in its final stages.
Palace’s unexpected qualification for Europe is said to have caught investors off guard, accelerating the need to resolve Textor’s dual involvement. UEFA has yet to issue a formal ruling on the eligibility of Palace and Lyon, but a forced withdrawal looms unless Textor exits soon.
The situation has drawn further attention following Botafogo’s surprise win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Club World Cup another club in the Eagle Football portfolio highlighting the reach and complexity of Textor’s multi-club model.
Should the deal go through, Johnson would become a significant figure in Premier League ownership, adding to a growing list of American investors in English football. For Palace, the sale could secure not just regulatory clarity, but a new chapter under a deep-pocketed backer with global sports pedigree which could lift them up to a European regular.
Contact the writer of this story, Harry Ewing, at moc.l1750449164labto1750449164ofdlr1750449164owedi1750449164sni@g1750449164niwe.1750449164yrrah1750449164