After recently selling his stake in Crystal Palace, US investor John Textor is making a rapid return to English football, reportedly setting his sights on Sheffield Wednesday. Textor has intensified his interest this week after partnering with veteran football financier Keith Harris, who will advise on negotiations with current owner Dejphon Chansiri.
Harris brings extensive experience in club acquisitions, having been involved in deals at Manchester City and Aston Villa, as well as orchestrating a consortium bid for Everton, another club Textor had previously considered. Reports suggest Chansiri values Sheffield Wednesday at £100 million, despite recently rejecting bids of up to £40 million from a US consortium.
A Strategic Move into the Championship
Textor made his intentions clear during an interview with TalkSport, highlighting both the financial and structural challenges facing the club:
“I’m definitely interested. It’s a lot to solve in a short amount of time regarding the transfer window, but it’s definitely a club and community I would like to help. I often cite Sheffield Wednesday as an example of what’s wrong with football today. The lack of parity, because of the influence of money — I wish there was a system where the Sheffields of the world could be champions again.”
The club has struggled financially throughout the 2025/26 season. Repeated late wage payments prompted the English Football League (EFL) to take action in June. While a Premier League solidarity fund helped Sheffield Wednesday meet its most recent payroll, the club remains under a fee restriction for the current and next two transfer windows, and uncertainty persists regarding player contracts.
The EFL issued a statement emphasizing the need for stability:
“The league wants to see a strong, stable and competitive Sheffield Wednesday. For that to happen, the current owner must either fund the club to meet its obligations or sell to a well-funded party for fair market value, ending the current uncertainty and impasse. We are in advanced discussions with Mr. Chansiri’s legal advisors on formalizing a divestment process.”
Textor’s Multiclub Model
John Textor operates through the Eagle Football Group, which owns Lyon, Botafogo, and RWD Molenbeek. While the model allows for cross-club synergies, it has not been without challenges; Lyon faced potential relegation to Ligue 2 before being reinstated to Ligue 1 after clearance by French authorities.
Acquiring Sheffield Wednesday would extend Textor’s footprint in European football, offering a strategic entry into the Championship while leveraging his experience in multiclub ownership. For Sheffield Wednesday, the potential involvement of a financially well-resourced investor could be a critical step toward long-term stability and competitiveness.
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