Woody Johnson completes Crystal Palace purchase from John Textor as club awaits Europa League verdict

Crystal Palace have confirmed that Woody Johnson’s purchase of Eagle Football’s shareholding in the club has been completed.

The American businessman, who is also co-owner of the New York Jets, joins chairman Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer as a partner and director of the Eagles, and he has also signed the Premier League’s Owners’ Charter.

“I am honoured and privileged to be joining the ownership group of Crystal Palace Football Club,” 78-year-old Johnson told the club’s official website.

“It is an organisation with a proud history, tradition, and deep roots in English football in South London, which I came to admire during my time as U.S. Ambassador to the United Kingdom.

"Eagles fans have demonstrated extraordinary loyalty, passion, and unwavering dedication and I am excited to meet and get to know them.

We are pleased to confirm that Woody Johnson’s purchase of Eagle Football’s shareholding in the club has now been completed.#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) July 24, 2025

Johnson completes Palace takeover from Textor

"I have great respect for Steve Parish and the leadership he has provided over the years. I look forward to working with him and the entire ownership group to build on the club’s recent successes and help shape an exciting future for Crystal Palace.

"This is more than an investment - it’s a commitment to realising the vision for the club, the community, and the culture around Selhurst Park.”

Parish added: “At this exciting time for Crystal Palace, we are delighted to be welcoming Woody to the ownership of the football club, and we very much look forward to working alongside him to build on our historic recent success moving forwards.”

Johnson's arrival at Selhurst Park comes at a time when Palace are in dispute with football governing body UEFA over which European competition they will be participating in next season.

Last season’s FA Cup winners were demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League earlier this month after breaching UEFA’s multi-club ownership rules, with American businessman John Textor owning a stake in both the Eagles and Ligue 1 side Lyon, who have also qualified for the Europa League.

Palace in dispute with UEFA as Europa League spot hangs in the balance

Textor’s Eagle Football owned 43% of Palace, which has now been purchased by Johnson for a reported £190m, and also own 90% of Lyon, whose relegation from Ligue 1 for financial mismanagement was recently overturned.

Crystal Palace have since submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) against UEFA’s decision and Sky Sports News claims that the club believes that confirmation of Textor’s sale to Johnson will help them in their upcoming CAS appeal.

Textor's agreement to sell his stake in Palace to Johnson took place after the March 1 deadline and UEFA believe that the 59-year-old had decisive influence at both the Eagles and Lyon.

However, Palace are now said to feel that there is no reason why they should not be reinstated back into the Europa League now that Textor has officially departed, as there is no conflict of interest in the competition.

Palace, who finished 12th in the Premier League under head coach Oliver Glasner last season, are expected to discover the verdict of their appeal to CAS on August 11.