NFL Owner in Talks for £200 Million Investment in Crystal Palace

London, England – Woody Johnson, the owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, is in discussions for a £200 million ($272 million) investment in Crystal Palace, sources told ESPN. This deal could enable the FA Cup champions to participate in next season’s Europa League.

Crystal Palace secured their Europa League spot by winning the FA Cup in May against Manchester United at Wembley. However, the club faces the risk of being blocked from the competition due to a violation of UEFA‘s multiclub ownership rules.

Minority stakeholder John Textor, who owns a majority stake in French club Lyon, is currently being scrutinized under these regulations. Although he does not manage Palace on a day-to-day basis, UEFA rules forbid two teams with the same ownership from competing together unless one club’s shares are placed into a blind trust. Textor missed the UEFA deadline of March 1 to transfer his shares into such a trust, despite Crystal Palace qualifying for the Europa League by winning the FA Cup.

Sources indicate that Textor is open to selling his 43% stake in the club, with Johnson emerging as the frontrunner for the acquisition. Johnson, 78, served as the U.S. ambassador to the UK from 2017 to 2021 and previously attempted to buy Chelsea FC after the club was sanctioned by the UK government in 2022 in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite his efforts, the club was sold to a different buyer.

Should Textor successfully sell his stake to Johnson, it would resolve the ownership conflict, allowing Crystal Palace to maintain its place in next season’s Europa League.