Palace Co-owner Looks To Offload Stake And Invest In Everton

Crystal Palace co-owner John Textor is intent on selling his 45% stake in the club, and is interested in investing in Everton, the US businessman has confirmed.

In an interview with The Athletic, the Eagle Football Holdings Chairman said the South London club is “simply not a perfect fit,” and expressed interest in purchasing Everton.

The multi-club group owns five football clubs, including Ligue 1 outfit Lyon.

The 58-year-old has appointed the Raine Group in order to assist in the sale of his ownership stake. Textor first bought a 40 per cent share in Palace in 2021 for £87.5m, before increasing that by five per cent in 2023.

Eagle Football will not be able to invest in another club until it has relinquished its existing share in Palace.

“I want to be involved in an English club that wins championships; like, at the top of the league,” Textor told The Athletic.

“And that requires taking risks that can also send you down the other way. I don’t know if that strategy is necessarily right for Palace. 

“There are other people that are probably a little more patient than I am, and maybe impatience is not necessarily good for Palace.”

News of Textor’s interest in Everton comes as the club faces uncertainty over its pending takeover by 777 Partners. The US private equity firm agreed to acquire Fahrad Moshiri’s 94% stake in the club back in September, but have yet to complete the deal.

Commenting on Everton, Textor said he believes the Merseyside club “represents the best of English football” and confirmed that he had already held discussions over potentially purchasing the Toffees, but added that 777 has a contract to buy the team.

Australian airline Bonza, which is owned by 777 Partners, recently entered administration, raising further concerns over the completion of the takeover.

As he ponders investment in other teams, Textor also said he had been in talks with a number of Championship clubs.

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