Premier League chairman Gary Hoffman will resign in the new year, the league announced on Wednesday.
Hoffman's resignation comes after a turbulent spell for the top flight, but sources told ESPN his departure is not expected to impact the daily running of the Premier League.
A statement said: "Gary Hoffman will step down as Chair of the Premier League at the end of January 2022.
"The Premier League is grateful to Gary for his committed service. He has led the League during the most challenging period in its history and leaves it in a stronger position than ever. The process of appointing a new Chair will begin immediately."
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Hoffman, 61, is chairman of financial group Monzo and has held the role at the Premier League for 18 months.
He said: "It has been a privilege to lead the Premier League through the last two seasons -- when the spirit of English football has been more important than ever.
"Now, I have decided the time is right for me to stand aside to allow new leadership to steer the League through its next exciting phase."
Sources added his resignation is not solely down to the misgivings expressed by many other clubs over the league's handling of the Newcastle United takeover by the Saudi Arabia sovereign state Public Investment Fund (PIF), but it is a contributing factor. Hoffman was not forced out by the clubs, but instead decided to leave on his own terms, according to sources.
CEO Richard Masters retains the support of the Premier League clubs, sources told ESPN.
Newcastle's takeover was mired in controversy due to accusations the club will be run by the Saudi state. The takeover ended an 18-month deadlock after an agreement had originally been reached in April 2020. However, PIF, the world's largest sovereign wealth fund (state-owned investment), failed to pass the Premier League's owners' and directors' test at the time, creating an impasse which has now been resolved.
Officially, the Premier League indicated they had legally binding assurances the Saudi Arabian government would not have control over Newcastle, but are still monitoring their level of involvement, sources told ESPN.
Information from ESPN correspondent James Olley was used in this report