Crystal Palace are run by a multi‑owner group fronted by chairman Steve Parish, with American investors Josh Harris, David Blitzer and Woody Johnson now the key powerbrokers behind the scenes.
Who Owns Crystal Palace?
Crystal Palace are owned by a consortium structure rather than a single individual.
- Steve Parish – South London businessman and lifelong fan; led the CPFC 2010 consortium that rescued the club from administration in 2010 and is now minority shareholder (around 10%) but public face and day‑to‑day boss.
- Josh Harris & David Blitzer – US private‑equity partners who each bought roughly 18% in 2015 and remain major shareholders, with significant experience owning the Philadelphia 76ers and New Jersey Devils.
- Woody Johnson – Owner of the New York Jets; completed a deal in July 2025 to acquire John Textor’s 43% stake, becoming Palace’s largest single shareholder.
Financial and governance analysis notes that, despite changing share percentages, Palace is effectively run by a “general partnership” of these major investors rather than a single controlling owner.
Steve Parish: Chairman and Club Figurehead
Steve Parish has been Crystal Palace chairman since 2010 and remains the central decision‑maker on football and business strategy.
- Background: Made his fortune with marketing production firm Tag Worldwide before fronting the CPFC 2010 consortium that bought Palace out of administration and secured Selhurst Park.
- Role:
In 2025 he confirmed that work on the long‑planned Selhurst Park Main Stand redevelopment would finally begin in January 2026, after securing a £125m financing package led by Goldman Sachs. Parish has hinted he may eventually step back once the new regulatory era and stadium build are secure, but insists his current focus is finishing those projects.
Recent and Ongoing Ownership Changes
American tech entrepreneur John Textor bought around 40–45% of Palace in 2021 via Eagle Football, becoming the largest shareholder and one of four “general partners” alongside Parish, Harris and Blitzer. His multi‑club model (also involving Lyon, Botafogo and RWD Molenbeek) later triggered UEFA concerns about multiple clubs with shared ownership entering the same competition, which contributed to Palace being diverted from the Europa League into the Conference League in 2025–26.
To resolve that conflict, Textor agreed in June 2025 to sell his entire Palace stake to Woody Johnson for around £190m–£245m, a deal confirmed by the club and the BBC in July 2025.
- The sale:
Reports in 2025 also linked other US investors, including NBA star Jimmy Butler, with interest in buying into Palace via a consortium looking to acquire Eagle Football’s former stake, underlining how attractive the club has become after winning the FA Cup and qualifying for Europe.
What the Board Is Focusing on Now
Current board and ownership priorities include:
- Stadium redevelopment: Starting construction on the new 13,500‑seat Main Stand in 2026, increasing Selhurst’s capacity and hospitality revenue.
- European consolidation: Building on FA Cup success and Conference League qualification to make Palace a regular European participant.
- Academy and player trading model: Continuing to invest in the Category 1 academy and a recruitment strategy that has already produced stars like Wilfried Zaha, Marc Guéhi and Eberechi Eze, boosting both sporting performance and resale value.
Crystal Palace Ownership Snapshot
In practice, Steve Parish still “runs” Crystal Palace as chairman, but he now does so with the financial backing of one of the Premier League’s more powerful US‑led investor groups, placing the Eagles at an important crossroads between local identity and global ambition.
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