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Mohamed Al Fayed has ended his 16-year stint as Fulham owner by selling the club to Shahid Khan, owner of NFL side Jacksonville Jaguars.

Khan, 62, a billionaire car-parts entrepreneur, is the sixth American owner of a Premier League club.

During his time in charge, Egyptian Al Fayed, 84, took Fulham from the third tier to the top flight and into Europe.

"It has been a pleasure and privilege to be chairman of Fulham football club for 16 memorable years," he said.

Financial details of the takeover have yet to be officially disclosed, with media reports valuing the deal at between £150m and £200m.

A leading supporters group said the news represented an "exciting but uncertain time" for Fulham, who finished last season 12th in the league.

Who is Shahid Khan? Born: Pakistan Age: 62

Left homeland for United States in 1967 aged 16 to study engineering

Graduated from University of Illinois with Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering

Built up Flex-N-Gate automotive firm to employ 16,000 people

In December 2011, bought NFL team Jacksonville Jaguars

Pakistan-born Khan, who moved to the United States aged 16, employs thousands of people through his car parts business.

"Fulham is the perfect club at the perfect time for me. I want to be clear, I do not view myself so much as the owner of Fulham, but a custodian of the club on behalf of its fans," he said.

"My priority is to ensure the club and Craven Cottage each have a viable and sustainable Premier League future that fans of present and future generations can be proud of.

"We will manage the club's financial and operational affairs with prudence and care, with youth development and community programmes as fundamentally important elements of Fulham's future."

Khan bought Jacksonville Jaguars in December 2011, but they struggled last season, finishing bottom of AFC South with two wins from 14 matches. external-link

The Jaguars are scheduled to play one regular-season NFL 'home' game at Wembley each year from 2013 to 2016, starting in October against the San Francisco 49ers.

In a statement Al Fayed called Khan "a living embodiment of the American success story" and said they met twice before completing the deal.

"I am now delighted to be passing this great and historic club into the care and stewardship of an outstanding man who has already achieved much in his life and will, I am sure, take Fulham on to even greater things," said the former Harrods owner.

Al Fayed bought Fulham for a reported £30m in 1997 and provided the funds which helped the Cottagers' rise from the third tier of English football to the Premier League.

Managers under Al Fayed 1997: Kevin Keegan brought in as chief operating officer to work with manager Ray Wilkins

1998: Fulham finish sixth but Wilkins is sacked and replaced by Keegan. The team fail to beat Grimsby in the play-offs but win the title the following season

1999: Keegan leaves at the end of the 1998-1999 season to concentrate on managing England. Paul Bracewell steps in

2000: Bracewell is replaced by Jean Tigana in March, who leads Fulham into the Premier League the following season

2003: Tigana is sacked and replaced by former player Chris Coleman

2007: Coleman is replaced by Lawrie Sanchez whose reign lasts nine months before he makes way for Roy Hodgson who saves Cottagers from relegation

2010: Hodgson leads Fulham to Europa Cup final and then leaves for Liverpool. Mark Hughes takes over

2011: Hughes stays just 11 months. He is replaced by Martin Jol

"The time is right because I have found a very good man in Shahid Khan to accept the responsibility and privilege that I have enjoyed at Fulham since 1997."

In arguably the club's most successful ever period, he guided Fulham to their third promotion in five seasons in 2000-01, giving Fulham top-flight status for the first time since 1968.

The 2013-14 season will be their 13th successive Premier League campaign, making them one of the division's longest-serving teams.

Fulham also reached the final of the Europa League in May 2010, losing 2-1 to Atletico Madrid.

The Fulham Supporters' Trust said the club enjoyed "wonderful progression" under Al Fayed and fans extended "heartfelt thanks" to him.

"The change of ownership presents an exciting, if uncertain time, for Fulham fans, but the trust feels it is important to recognise the immeasurable contribution our outgoing chairman has made to the history of our great club," it said.

Al Fayed said he had "loved every minute" of his time at the club, which included welcoming pop star Michael Jackson to games. A statue in honour of the singer was erected outside Fulham's ground.

He recalled the Europa League victory over Italian club Juventus as "probably the greatest game ever seen at Craven Cottage".

"Now is the right time for me to retire and spend time playing football with my grandchildren. I am sad, but proud of our achievements," he said.