It’s been a dream season for Crystal Palace — winning the FA Cup and booking a historic ticket to Europe.
But behind the scenes, there’s been a lot more going on than just celebrations.
The club’s long-awaited Europa League debut was at serious risk because of complicated ownership rules — until now.
John Textor Steps Aside to Save Palace’s European Hopes
American investor John Textor, whose company Eagle Football Holdings owned 43% of Crystal Palace, has now sold that stake to New York Jets owner Woody Johnson.
This isn’t just a boardroom shake-up — it’s a move that could save Palace’s shot at European football next season.
UEFA had raised concerns over Textor’s involvement due to his ownership of French club Lyon, which could breach their multi-club ownership rules.
Even though Textor only had 25% of the voting power at Palace, the fact that he held significant stakes in two European clubs was a red flag.
Club Officials Took Their Case Straight to UEFA
Earlier this month, Palace officials — including Textor himself — flew out to UEFA’s offices in Switzerland for crunch talks.
They hoped to argue that Textor’s limited voting rights meant he didn’t truly control the club, and therefore shouldn’t be seen as a conflict under UEFA rules.
Textor even told Mail Sport at the time that he was actively trying to sell his stake to avoid putting the club’s European future at risk.
Deal Done with Woody Johnson for £190 Million
Fast forward to now — and that deal has been sealed.
Johnson, a billionaire businessman and former US ambassador to the UK, is buying the 43% stake for around £190 million.
It’s all still subject to Premier League approval, but inside sources suggest the paperwork is in order.
UEFA hasn’t officially commented yet, but the feeling behind the scenes is that this could be enough to ensure Palace keeps its Europa League place.
Ownership Set-Up Will Remain Balanced
Even with Johnson stepping in, the club is maintaining the same balanced power structure.
Just like with Textor, Johnson will only hold 25% of the voting rights.
Those are split evenly between him, club chairman Steve Parish, and US investors Josh Harris and David Blitzer.
It’s worth noting that Blitzer’s ownership of Danish club Brondby had also raised eyebrows with UEFA.
Had they ruled against Palace, they could’ve been bumped from the Europa League down to the Europa Conference League — a big downgrade for a club on the rise.
Decision from UEFA Coming Soon
All eyes are now on UEFA, with a final verdict expected before the end of the month.
Inside the football world, many believe Palace’s swift action in reshuffling ownership could be enough to keep them on the Europa League stage.
For Palace fans, it’s an anxious wait — but there’s real optimism that this ownership change has done the trick.
Who Is Woody Johnson?
If the name sounds familiar, it’s because Woody Johnson is no stranger to headlines.
He’s an heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical empire, a prominent Republican donor, and a close ally of Donald Trump, even serving as his ambassador to the UK.
In 2022, Johnson made a serious attempt to buy Chelsea but lost out in the high-stakes bidding war.
Now, he’s made his move into Premier League football with a big stake in Palace.
A Background in Sports and Philanthropy
Johnson has owned the New York Jets since 2000, though success has been hard to come by — the Jets haven’t made the NFL playoffs in 14 seasons.
Still, he’s known for his philanthropic work, particularly in medical research.
His wife, Suzanne, grew up in a Ukrainian neighborhood in New York, and the Jets have donated to Ukraine under his leadership.
Palace Looks to the Future with European Ambitions
With the ownership puzzle seemingly solved, Palace can now look forward to their European journey.
It’s a huge moment in the club’s history — and after navigating off-pitch drama with clever diplomacy and swift decisions, they just might be ready for the spotlight on the continental stage.