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US billionaire owners of Crystal Palace explore sale, FT reports

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on June 15, 2026

2 min read

· Last updated: June 15, 2026

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Soccer-US billionaire owners of Crystal Palace explore sale, FT reports

Crystal Palace Ownership and Potential Sale

June 15 (Reuters) - The U.S. billionaire owners of Crystal Palace are exploring a sale of the English Premier League club, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Bankers Appointed for Sale Process

The club had appointed bankers at Raine Group to handle the process and was open to a variety of options including a full sale, the report added.

Crystal Palace did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Key Shareholders and Recent Transactions

Significant Shareholders

Palace are led by four "significant shareholders" -- American investors Josh Harris, David Blitzer and Woody Johnson, alongside lifelong fan Steve Parish, who has served as the club's executive chairman since 2010.

Woody Johnson's Stake Acquisition

Johnson, a former U.S. ambassador to the U.K. and co-owner of the New York Jets, completed his purchase of Eagle Football Holdings' stake in Crystal Palace in July 2025 with British media reporting that the deal was worth close to 190 million pounds ($120.70 million), with Johnson purchasing a 43% stake.

Recent Club Developments

Managerial Changes

The report came on the day that Palace appointed Frenchman Pierre Sage as manager to succeed Oliver Glasner after a historic, trophy-laden period for the South London club.

Historic Achievements

FA Cup and Conference League Triumphs

Glasner, who departed last month at the end of his contract, guided Palace to the first major silverware in their history by defeating Manchester City to lift the 2025 FA Cup, before doubling the club's trophy tally in May with a victory over Spain's Rayo Vallecano to capture the Conference League.

Additional Information

Reuters could not immediately verify the FT report. 

($1 = 0.7457 pounds)

(Reporting by Ananya Palyekar in Bengaluru and Tommy Lund in Gdansk; Editing by Joyjeet Das and Clare Fallon)

Key Takeaways

  • Crystal Palace has engaged Raine Group to oversee a potential sale process, opening the door to either partial or full ownership transfer, according to the Financial Times (reddit.com).
  • The current ownership structure includes US billionaire stakeholders such as Woody Johnson (majority owner at ~43%), Josh Harris and David Blitzer (~18% each), and Steve Parish, whose background and holdings may influence any future deal (wearepalace.uk).
  • Past ownership changes include John Textor’s sale of his ~45% stake in mid‑2025—transferred to Woody Johnson for around £190 million—marking a significant shift in the club’s shareholder dynamics (sportsbusinessjournal.com).

References

Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns Crystal Palace football club?
Crystal Palace is owned by US billionaire investors.
What are the owners of Crystal Palace planning?
They are exploring a sale of the club and have appointed bankers to manage the process.
Which firm is handling the potential sale of Crystal Palace?
Raine Group has been appointed to handle the process.
Is a full sale of Crystal Palace being considered?
Yes, a full sale is among the options under consideration.
Has the report of the sale been verified by Reuters?
Reuters could not immediately verify the Financial Times report.

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