Eagle Football Holdings
Corporate brand
UnclaimedEagle Football Holdings is a privately held, international football investment and multi-club ownership group established by John Textor.
Last updated August 31, 2026
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History
Eagle Football Holdings emerged from John Textor's attempt to assemble an international portfolio of football clubs. Before the holding company was formalized, Textor explored possible investments in several English clubs, including Brentford, Watford and Newcastle United. His first completed major football investment was a 40% stake in Crystal Palace, acquired in August 2021 for a reported £86 million. The investment made him a co-owner alongside Steve Parish, Josh Harris and David Blitzer. In January 2022, Textor expanded into South America by signing a binding offer to acquire 90% of Botafogo, one of Brazil's established football clubs. During the same period, he acquired 80% of RWDM Brussels, a Belgian club competing in the Challenger Pro League. These transactions established the core of a cross-border club portfolio and preceded the creation of a dedicated holding structure. The most important acquisition followed on 20 June 2022, when Textor became the controlling owner of Olympique Lyonnais. The transaction involved the purchase of a 40% interest in the OL Group previously held by IDG Capital and Pathé, together with a majority of shares formerly associated with longtime Lyon president Jean-Michel Aulas. Eagle Football subsequently reported or was reported to hold 77.49% of Olympique Lyonnais by December 2022. The reported transaction value was approximately $940 million, equivalent to €884 million at the time. Eagle Football Holdings was initially operated from Delaware. It was formally incorporated in London as Eagle Football Holdings Midco Limited on 28 September 2022 and later changed its name to Eagle Football Holdings Limited. The company served as the organizing entity for Textor's football investments, bringing together clubs that retained their own identities, domestic competitions and local histories. Its portfolio also included a minority interest in OL Lyonnes, the women's football organization associated with Olympique Lyonnais. The group's multi-club structure became subject to a major regulatory test during the 2025 UEFA qualification cycle. Crystal Palace won the 2025 FA Cup, defeating Manchester City in the final, and therefore qualified for the UEFA Europa League. Lyon also qualified for the Europa League after finishing sixth in Ligue 1. UEFA's multi-club ownership rules restrict clubs under common ownership from participating in the same competition where the ownership relationship creates a prohibited degree of influence. UEFA selected Lyon for the Europa League and moved Crystal Palace to the Conference League; Nottingham Forest took the resulting Europa League place. Textor attempted to resolve the conflict by disposing of his Crystal Palace holding. In June 2025 he reached an agreement with Woody Johnson, owner of the New York Jets and a former United States ambassador to the United Kingdom. Textor also resigned from leadership at Lyon, and Michele Kang replaced him as chairwoman and chief executive of the Eagle Football organization managing the French club. The Crystal Palace transaction was reported at approximately £190 million, or $256.37 million, and was completed on 24 July 2025. Crystal Palace nevertheless pursued an appeal, arguing that Textor did not have decisive influence over the club. The Court of Arbitration for Sport rejected the challenge on 11 August 2025 and upheld the UEFA competition decision. The supplied reference material further states that on 27 March 2026 Ares Capital Corporation, identified as Eagle Football's principal creditor, placed the group's United Kingdom holding company into administration. The reported event ended Textor's control of the Eagle Football multi-club empire, but the material does not fully describe the subsequent ownership, administration process or final disposition of every club. Accordingly, the group's present corporate status requires continued verification.
- 2026
Reported administration of the United Kingdom holding company
[1]Reference material reports that Ares Capital Corporation placed Eagle Football's United Kingdom holding company into administration.
- 2025
Crystal Palace stake sold
[1]Textor agreed to sell his entire Crystal Palace interest to Woody Johnson; the purchase was completed in July.
- 2025
UEFA resolves the shared-ownership qualification issue
[1]UEFA allowed Lyon to enter the Europa League and moved Crystal Palace to the Conference League under its multi-club ownership rules.
- 2022
Botafogo and RWDM Brussels investments
[1]Textor agreed to acquire a controlling interest in Botafogo and acquired a majority interest in RWDM Brussels.
- 2022
Olympique Lyonnais acquisition
[1]Textor acquired control of Olympique Lyonnais through purchases from IDG Capital, Pathé and other shareholders.
- 2022
London registration of the holding company
[1]Eagle Football Holdings Midco Limited was formally registered in London on 28 September and later renamed Eagle Football Holdings Limited.
- 2022
Eagle Football reaches a reported 77.49% Lyon stake
[1]By December, Eagle Football reportedly held 77.49% of Olympique Lyonnais.
- 2021
Textor acquires a stake in Crystal Palace
[1]John Textor acquired a 40% interest in Crystal Palace, joining the club's existing ownership group.
Products and positioning
An international multi-club football investment platform focused on owning and coordinating professional clubs across multiple national leagues.
Professional football club · 2022
Botafogo
Botafogo is the group's Brazilian football asset and competes in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Eagle Football acquired a controlling interest in the club during January 2022, making it one of the first principal holdings in the international portfolio.
Professional football club · 2022
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is the group's principal French football asset and competes in Ligue 1. Eagle Football obtained control in June 2022 and reportedly held 77.49% of the OL Group by December of that year.
Women's professional football club
OL Lyonnes
OL Lyonnes is the women's football counterpart associated with Olympique Lyonnais. Eagle Football has held a minority interest in the organization.
Professional football club · 2022
RWDM Brussels
RWDM Brussels is the group's Belgian football asset and competes in the Challenger Pro League. Textor acquired an 80% interest in the club in January 2022.
Former minority football investment · 2021
Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace was Eagle Football's former English football investment. Textor acquired a 40% stake in August 2021, but the entire interest was sold to Woody Johnson in 2025 after a UEFA competition-qualification conflict involving Lyon.
Brand decisions
2025
Sell the Crystal Palace stakeM&ABackground
Crystal Palace and Olympique Lyonnais both qualified for the UEFA Europa League while connected to Eagle Football, creating an issue under UEFA's multi-club ownership rules.
Action taken
Textor agreed to sell his entire Crystal Palace interest to Woody Johnson and subsequently left leadership at Lyon.
Aftermath
The sale was completed in July 2025. Crystal Palace's UEFA appeal was unsuccessful, and the club remained assigned to the Conference League.
Reported transaction value. Approximately £190 million ($256.37 million) (2025)
2022
Acquire control of Olympique LyonnaisM&ABackground
Eagle Football sought to expand its international football portfolio by taking control of a major French club and integrating it into a multi-club ownership structure.
Action taken
John Textor acquired shares held by IDG Capital and Pathé and a majority of shares previously associated with Jean-Michel Aulas.
Aftermath
By December 2022, Eagle Football reportedly held 77.49% of the OL Group.
Reported transaction value. $940 million (€884 million) (2022)
Sources1 sources
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