Woody Johnson Buys Crystal Palace Stake in £190m Deal

Textor’s Palace Stake Sold to Jets Owner Woody Johnson in £190m Deal

New York Jets owner Woody Johnson has reached a legally binding agreement to purchase John Textor’s 43% stake in Crystal Palace in a deal estimated at £190 million, the club announced on Monday.

The transaction, which is pending Premier League and Women’s Super League approval, could have major implications for Palace’s Europa League eligibility next season.

Takeover to Ease UEFA Multi-Club Concerns?

Textor’s Eagle Football Holdings, which owns stakes in multiple clubs including Lyon, has placed Palace at risk of breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership regulations.

Both Lyon and Palace have qualified for the Europa League, but UEFA rules prohibit multiple clubs owned or significantly influenced by the same entity from entering the same competition.

Palace hope Johnson’s rapid takeover can serve as proof they are resolving ownership concerns in good faith, even though the March deadline for UEFA compliance has passed.

“We do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club,” Crystal Palace said in an official statement.

Why Johnson’s Offer Was Accepted

Sources indicate Johnson’s ability to transfer funds immediately played a decisive role in outpacing two rival offers, amid Palace’s urgency to resolve the UEFA ownership conflict.

The 78-year-old billionaire, former US ambassador to the UK and heir to the Johnson & Johnson fortune, is reported to have a net worth of £6.8bn.

His prior ownership experience with the NFL’s New York Jets since 2000 and his public profile are seen as positives in Premier League Owners’ and Directors’ Test deliberations.

John Textor’s Exit

Textor purchased his stake in Palace in 2021 for around £90m and departs amid growing scrutiny over his multi-club model.

“We thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future,” the club added.

UEFA is expected to decide by the end of June whether Palace’s restructuring is sufficient to allow them to compete in the Europa League.

Legal Grey Area Could Benefit Forest

Even if UEFA clears Palace, Nottingham Forest—who would otherwise take Palace’s Europa League place and play in the Conference League—could appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), citing that Palace failed to meet the March ownership compliance deadline.

Notably, Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis adjusted his ownership setup ahead of UEFA’s cut-off date to avoid conflict with Olympiakos, another of his clubs.

What’s Next?

• Premier League approval for Johnson is expected to be swift.

• UEFA’s decision on Palace’s European participation is due in June.

• Forest may appeal to CAS depending on UEFA’s ruling.