Palace chairman Simon Jordan has pulled off a massive coup by purchasing the freehold to Selhurst Park from Ron Noades for £12 million.
The sale was completed through an intermediary, so Noades never realised who the ultimate buyer was
Jordan has wanted to buy the ground ever since buying the club six years ago, but has consistently seen his efforts thwarted by Noades.
Jordan said: "Given the nature of my relationship with the landlord it has made it difficult to negotiate a deal.
"I have used the structure - unbeknownst to Ron, I suspect - to purchase the freehold, which we exchanged on Friday last week.
"It now puts me in a position in which I own the freehold, which is what I said would do for the club when I bought it, and goes to the heart of the plans of the football club having everything it needs in one place."