Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor has agreed to sell his 43% stake in the club to Woody Johnson, owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, in a deal thought to be worth close to £190million.
The Premier League side confirmed the agreement in a statement, naming Johnson as the buyer through a legally binding contract.
The sale remains subject to approval from the Premier League and the Women’s Super League, but Palace say they do not anticipate any issues and expect Johnson to become a partner and director at the club.
A statement from Palace said: “Crystal Palace Football Club can confirm that Robert Wood Johnson, ‘Woody’, an American businessman and co-owner of the New York Jets, has signed a legally binding contract to purchase Eagle Football’s holding in the club.
“Whilst the completion is pending approval from the Premier League and Women’s Super League, we do not envisage any issues and look forward to welcoming Woody as a partner and director of the club.
“We would like to go on record to thank John Textor for his contribution over the past four years and wish him every success for the future.”
We can confirm that Robert Wood Johnson “Woody” has signed a legally binding contract to purchase Eagle Football’s holding in the club.
Full club statement ⤵️#CPFC
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) June 23, 2025
Palace earned a place in the Europa League by winning the FA Cup, but that spot is now in jeopardy due to UEFA’s strict regulations on multi-club ownership.
Textor also owns a significant stake in French side Lyon, who have qualified for the same competition. UEFA is currently investigating whether Palace’s position breaches rules that prevent clubs with shared ownership from playing in the same European tournament.
It is not yet clear if the sale of Textor’s stake will allow Palace to satisfy UEFA’s requirements and retain their Europa League place. A final decision from European football’s governing body is expected by the end of June.
Woody Johnson, 78, is a billionaire heir to the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical fortune. He served as US ambassador to the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2021 and has owned the New York Jets since 2000. According to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, his net worth was estimated at £6.8 billion ($9.18 billion) in 2024.
