**_LONDON_**: New York Jets co-owner Robert Wood “Woody” Johnson has formally agreed to buy Eagle Football Holding’s stake in Crystal Palace – clearing the London club to play in the Europa League next season.
The £190m deal is subject to approval from the Premier League and the Women’s Super League.
A club statement said: “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.”
Johnson, former U.S. ambassador to the United Kingdom, is set to become a partner and director at Palace. The 78-year-old is one of the heirs of the Johnson family that founded the Johnson & Johnson pharmaceutical company.
Johnson is reporedly purchasing a 43pc stake in Palace from Eagle the multi-club company led by American businessman John Textor, who also has stakes in Ligue 1’s Olympique Lyonnais and Brazil’s Botafogo.
Palace, who qualified for the Europa League by winning last season’s FA Cup, have now addressed the risk of losing their spot due to former stakeholder Textor’s ties to Lyon, another qualifier, as European soccer’s governing body UEFA bars clubs under the same ownership from competing in the same competition.
“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,” the south London-based club said.
Textor bought the stake for about £90m in August 2021.
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