Eagle Football Holdings

Lore & Background

Eagle Football Holdings was established in 2022 after John Textor acquired stakes in several football clubs. In August 2021, Textor invested £86 million for a 40% ownership in Crystal Palace. In January 2022, he signed a binding offer to purchase 90% of Botafogo and acquired 80% of RWDM Brussels in the same week. On 20 June 2022, Textor became owner of Olympique Lyonnais by acquiring 40% of OL Group shares and the majority of shares previously held by Jean-Michel Aulas. The holding company was initially registered in Delaware, then formally registered as Eagle Football Holdings Midco Limited in London on 28 September 2022, later renamed Eagle Football Holdings Limited. By December 2022, Textor had acquired a 77.49% stake in Olympique Lyonnais through the company, with the deal valued at $940 million (€884 million).

In the 2024–25 season, Crystal Palace won the FA Cup, qualifying for the UEFA Europa League. However, UEFA prohibited Crystal Palace from competing under multi-club ownership rules because Lyon had also qualified for the same competition. UEFA announced on 11 July that Lyon would play in the Europa League due to higher league standings, demoting Crystal Palace to the UEFA Conference League. Textor sold his entire Crystal Palace stake to Woody Johnson in June 2025 for about £190 million ($256.37 million), with the purchase completed on 24 July. Crystal Palace appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on 22 July, arguing Textor 'didn't have decisive influence over the club,' but the court upheld UEFA's decision on 11 August.

On 27 March 2026, Textor lost control of Eagle Football after its main creditor, Ares Capital Corporation, put the group’s UK-based holding company into administration.

Reader's Guide

Eagle Football Holdings represents a significant attempt at building a global multi-club football empire, a model increasingly common in modern football. The company's structure allowed John Textor to own clubs across Brazil, Belgium, France, and England, aiming to leverage player development and commercial synergies. However, the group's most notable impact came from its clash with UEFA's multi-club ownership regulations, which forced the sale of Crystal Palace after the club's FA Cup victory. This case highlighted the tension between private investment structures and football governance rules designed to preserve competitive integrity. The eventual loss of control to creditor Ares Capital Corporation in 2026 underscored the financial risks of leveraged acquisitions in the sport. Eagle Football's legacy lies in demonstrating both the ambitions and vulnerabilities of multi-club ownership, as well as the legal and regulatory challenges that can arise when ownership groups control clubs competing in the same UEFA competitions.

Did You Know?

• Eagle Football Holdings was originally named Eagle Football Holdings Bidco Limited before being renamed.
• The company owned 40% of Crystal Palace before selling its shares to Woody Johnson in 2025 for about £190 million.
• UEFA's multi-club ownership rule forced Crystal Palace to be demoted from the Europa League to the Conference League after winning the FA Cup.
• John Textor lost control of Eagle Football on 27 March 2026 when Ares Capital Corporation put the UK-based holding company into administration.