One football team might not be enough for Woody Johnson’s liking.
According to a report from ESPN, Johnson is in talks to purchase a majority stake in the English football club Crystal Palace, which currently competes in the English Premier League. The club is based in Selhurst, South London, England.
“Woody Johnson, the owner of the NFL’s New York Jets, is in talks over a £200 million ($272m) investment in Crystal Palace, sources told ESPN.”
ESPN reports that Johnson is the “leading candidate” to purchase the 43% stake held by John Textor.
“Minority stakeholder John Textor also owns a majority stake in Ligue 1 team Lyon. … However, sources have said that Textor, whose Eagle Football Group also includes Belgian club Daring Brussels and Brazilian team Botafogo, is ready to sell his 43% stake in Palace, with Johnson the leading candidate to thrash out a deal.”
Johnson already has a history in the United Kingdom. From 2017-21, he served as the United States ambassador to the United Kingdom, appointed by president Donald Trump. During his time overseas, Johnson’s younger brother, Chris, oversaw day-to-day operations of the New York Jets.
Johnson is not serving the role during Trump’s second term, but he could end up in England again after all.
This is not the first soccer-related news involving the Jets this week. On Wednesday, the NFL Players Association made headlines when it took a shot at MetLife Stadium for installing natural grass fields ahead of the FIFA Club World Cup, while the stadium continues to use a synthetic surface for NFL games.
Meanwhile, Johnson’s Jets are scheduled to fly out to London for a Week 6 game against the Denver Broncos, where New York will serve as the hosts at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
