Crystal Palace owners explore club sale as Premier League investment interest persists

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Crystal Palace sale explored

Highlights

Crystal Palace appoints Raine Group to explore a full club sale or alternative capital options, with potential for a premium price on a controlling stake.
Majority shareholder Woody Johnson acquired 43 per cent at a £550 million valuation last year, while Harris and Blitzer together hold nearly 40 per cent and Steve Parish 10 per cent.
Palace posted a pre-tax profit of £8.3 million on £196.6 million revenue in 2024-25, advances Selhurst Park expansion, and confirmed Pierre Sage as head coach after consecutive trophy wins.

Sale process and ownership options

As first reported by the Financial Times, Crystal Palace has appointed bankers at Raine Group to run a process that includes the possibility of a full sale, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter. Those people say the club is also considering other ways to bring in fresh capital.

The current ownership group includes Apollo co-founder Josh Harris, former Blackstone executive David Blitzer, Woody Johnson and executive chair Steve Parish. Harris and Blitzer together hold close to 40 per cent, while Parish owns 10 per cent.

Johnson is the largest shareholder after buying a 43 per cent stake last year at a valuation of £550 million. A person familiar with the matter says a sale of a controlling stake could help secure a higher price. Raine declines to comment, and Crystal Palace cannot be reached for comment.

Performance, stadium plans and market backdrop

Palace has established itself in the Premier League since winning promotion in 2013 and is in the most successful spell in its history. The club won the FA Cup in 2025 by beating Manchester City, then beat Rayo Vallecano in May to lift the Europa Conference League.

Both trophies come under Austrian coach Oliver Glasner, who leaves the club last month at the end of his contract. On Monday, Palace confirms Pierre Sage as his replacement after Sage leads Lens to a second-place league finish and Coupe de France victory last season.

The sale discussions also come as Palace pushes ahead with plans to modernise Selhurst Park, where parts of the stadium date back to the 1920s. The club has been working on rebuilding one stand to raise capacity by 8,000 to more than 34,000, but the project has dragged on for years as cost estimates climb.

Palace makes a pre-tax profit of £8.3 million on revenue of £196.6 million in 2024-25 and ranks 25th in Deloitte's list of the richest football clubs last year. Even though the market for football club deals has cooled since record transactions in 2022, Premier League assets continue to attract investors, with Daniel Kretinsky agreeing on Saturday to increase his stake in West Ham United and Brentford bringing in more minority investment in March.

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