Crystal Palace went into this summer needing to be one of the busiest sides in the transfer market, with a significant number of players out of contract and only a few of them likely to renew. With a focus on signing young players to bring the average age of the squad down, Palace made moves that saw nearly £60m spent. We've summed up all the transfer stories in one place.
Contracts
Christian Benteke -- COMPLETED -- 2.5 Year Contract -- A player whose career at Selhurst Park has seen a remarkable turn-around in the last season, Benteke went from being a player many Palace fans would have been happy to see leave, to being a player whose signature was essential. The Belgian striker signed his new contract -- believed to be a 2-and-a-half year deal, prior to jetting off to play at Euro 2020.
Joel Ward -- COMPLETED -- 2 Year Contract -- Palace have signed Ward to a two-year deal, taking him into and beyond his 10th season at the club. A loyal and dedicated servant at Selhurst Park, Ward's new deal entitles him to a testimonial which is likely to happen next summer.
Nathaniel Clyne -- COMPLETED -- 1 Year Contract -- Had it not been for Nathan Ferguson suffering the same fate that cruelly struck down Eberechi Eze, Clyne might not be in line for a new contract. But Palace's need for a right-back is paramount and after last season's contribution, it made sense that Palace gave him a new deal.
Wayne Hennessey -- SIGNED FOR BURNLEY -- The Wales international is not getting a new contract at Palace, with the club signing Jack Butland in the summer as his replacement. Hennessey has now signed a two-year deal at Burnley, and will compete with Nick Pope for the starting place in the side.
Andros Townsend -- SIGNED FOR EVERTON -- Despite being a player many Palace fans expected the club to re-sign, Townsend has been presented with a great opportunity to reunite with former manager Rafa Benitez at Everton. He signed a 2 year deal with the Liverpool club.
Mamadou Sakho -- SIGNED FOR MONTPELLIER -- Palace didn't offer Sakho a new contract and the Frenchman has now
signed a contract with Montpellier in Ligue 1, backing up reports during last season which suggested he would look to return to France, where his family still live.
Gary Cahill -- SIGNED FOR BOURNEMOUTH -- Despite a number of meetings between the player and the club, an agreement couldn't be reached. Cahill has now signed a one-year deal with Championship side Bournemouth.
James McCarthy -- SIGNED FOR CELTIC -- As with Sakho and Hennessey, it appears Palace didn't offer McCarthy a new contract. The midfielder, who signed for Palace in a cut-price move from Everton a couple of years ago, has instead rocked up at Celtic to complete a dream move for the player. In doing so, he's secured himself a 4-year contract -- something he definitely wouln't have received at Palace. Celtic look like a side that need a player to take the place of Scott Brown this season, and so long as he can stay fit, McCarthy has all the attributes to do that job impeccably.
Scott Dann -- SIGNED FOR READING -- Crystal Palace announced Scott Dann's departure on the 12th of August. Having reportedly discussed terms with Bournemouth and Birmingham City, hhe dependable centre-back has now signed for Reading on a one-year deal.
Connor Wickham -- TRAINING WITH PRESTON NORTH END -- The forward, who scored a crucial goal in Palace's win over Watford in the FA Cup Semi-Final, is yet to find a new club. He is believed to have spent a few weeks training with Championship side Preston North End.
Stephen Henderson -- TRAINING WITH CHARLTON ATHLETIC -- It's not easy being a third or fourth choice goalkeeper at a club like Palace, and it seems Henderson has opted to find some playing time elsewhere. Unlike many of those leaving Palace, Henderson received a farewell message from the club -- indicating that he played a significant role despite not featuring.
Completed Transfers
Michael Olise -- Attacking Mid -- Reading -- £8m -- COMPLETED -- With Eze injured for 6 months at least, Palace have signed Reading youngster Michael Olise on a 5-year contract for a bargain £8m fee, the result of the club triggering a release clause in his contract. Olise, who predominantly plays with his left foot, has impressed at Reading in the Championship, scoring 7 goals and creating 11 in 44 league games. Palace confirmed his signing on the 8th of July.
Marc Guehi -- Centre-Back -- Chelsea -- £18m -- COMPLETED -- 21-year-old centre-back Marc Guehi arrives from Chelsea with an impeccable reputation and 18-months of Championship football behind him. Having had a successful loan spell at Swansea, many Chelsea fans expected the youngster to make the step up into their first team. Instead, he'll be lining up in Palace's defence.
Remi Matthews -- Goalkeeper -- Free Agent -- COMPLETED -- 27-year-old Former Sunderland and Bolton Wanderers goalkeeper Matthews has signed a two-year deal with Palace, with the player taking Stephen Henderson's role as third-choice goalkeeper in the side.
Joachim Andersen -- Centre-Back -- Olympique Lyonnais -- £15m -- COMPLETED -- Palace's hunt for a centre-back has lead them to sign Danish international Andersen, who spent last season on at Fulham. While it was originally thought that Palace would pursue a loan deal for the commanding defender, the pandemic-induced economic challenges faced by French clubs appears to have made a permanent move much more attractive. He signs a five year deal at Selhurst Park.
Connor Gallagher -- Central Midfielder -- Chelsea -- Loan -- COMPLETED -- Young Chelsea midfielder Gallagher very nearly joined Palace on loan in the summer of 2020, but the Eagles opted to take Michy Batshuayi instead. Now, with playing opportunities at Stamford Bridge likely to be limited, Palace have firmed up their interest in the England Under-21, signing him on a year-long loan deal. He opted for Palace over Newcastle United and Leeds United, who were also said to be interested.
Will Hughes -- Central Midfielder -- Watford -- £6m -- COMPLETED -- Hughes has signed a three-year contract with Crystal Palace. The popular Watford midfielder arrives after what seems like months of negotiations, with Palace needing more of a pivot in central midfield. Hughes had been linked with other Premier League clubs but Palace appear to have been the only serious option. If you'd like to know more about the signing, and how he will fit in,
check out our profile of the player.
Odsonne Edouard -- Forward -- Celtic -- £14m -- COMPLETED -- French striker Edouard has had a remarkable spell in Scotland, scoring nearly 88 goals in 179 appearances for Celtic since moving to Glasgow in 2017. The former PSG attacker, who spent time on loan at Tolouse as well, is a player well known to Palace coach Saiid Aigoun, who spent time with the player in the French capital. Edouard signs a five-year-deal with Palace and is likely to go right into the first team for the visit of Tottenham on the 11th of September.
Adler Nascimento -- Forward -- Peterborough -- Compensation -- COMPLETED -- Peterborough United have confirmed that their 16-year-old attacking player Nascimento, who made his first-team debut with the side last season, has signed for Crystal Palace and that they will be seeking to negotiate compensation. While Palace haven't confirmed this move, the young Portuguese striker featured briefly in Palace's Under-23 side as they won 5-0 against Dulwich Hamlet.
Hitlist of Players Not Signed
Issa Diop -- Defender -- West Ham -- Loan -- Impressive centre-back Issa Diop could be a late addition to Palace's back-line, with prominent West Ham ITK
ExWHUEmployee stating it could happen. Perhaps Palace are serious about going for a back three now.
Divock Origi - Forward - Liverpool - £20m -- Liverpool's Belgian Champions League hero Origi is seeking a move to play more regular football, and Palace's need for a striker means that
Mike McGrath at the Telegraph thinks South London could be one of his destinations. The only problem with Origi is that he's not exactly prolific -- he scored 0 goals in 9 league appearances last season and only 4 in 28 the season before.
Alasanne Plea -- Winger -- Borussia Monchengladbach -- €15m -- French attacker Plea has been linked with a move to Crystal Palace, according to L'Equipe. The pacey forward who can also play on the wing no longer fits in at his German club, and Palace's need for more attacking options is well known.
Angelo Fulgini -- Midfielder -- Angers -- £12m -- 24-year-old Fulgini is another midfielder being linked to Crystal Palace, and his stats suggest he'd provide some attacking threat to the centre of the pitch. He scored 7 goals and created 4 as he became Ligue 1's most fouled player last season. Palace are said to be one of a number of Premier League clubs considering a move for the talented player.
Jens Cajuste - Central Midfielder -- FC Midtjylland -- £15m -- Swedish 21-year-old midfielder Cajuste has been linked to Palace by
Swedish newspaper Expressen with Leeds United and Newcastle United also interested in his services. Cajuste featured for the Swedish national team at Euro 2020 and comes with a growing reputation for his combative style, having made 69 appearances for his Danish club.
Callum McGregor -- Central Midfielder -- Celtic -- £7m -- There have been some spurious rumours linking Palace to a bid for Celtic's impressive midielder, but the source of these rumours doesn't appear to be the most reliable so we're not going to give them much credence. Celtic fans have made it clear that it would be unlikely of their club to accept a bid as low as £7m.
Okay Yokuslu -- Central Midfielder -- Celta Vigo -- £5m -- Having signed for West Brom on loan in January, Yokuslu impressed in the heart of their midfield. Palace are in need of another combative midfielder following the departure of James McCarthy, but the club are said to be holding out for a loan move. Leeds United are also reported to be interested in in the Turkish international.
Victor Nelsson -- Centre-Back -- FC Copenhagen -- £9m -- Highly-rated centre-back Nelsson has impressed for Copenhagen this season and was linked with Palace back in May. As with Kabak, a move for Nelsson is unlikely now given the signings made by the club.
Definitely Not Happening
Borja Mayoral -- Forward -- Real Madrid (via Roma) -- Loan -- ROMA COULD NOT FIND REPLACEMENT -- 24-year-old Spanish striker Mayoral has looked at his options at Roma, with whom he is currently in the second year of a two-year loan move, and wants to move following Roma's signing of additional striker options. Any move requires Real Madrid to recall the player, and for Palace to then sign him. The matter is further complicated by Roma wishing to keep the player. Having scored 17 goals for Roma last season, he'd bring a much-needed clinical edge to Palace's front line.
Jeremie Boga -- Winger -- Sassuolo -- £20m -- NO CONTACT MADE -- Nope. Palace have had no contact with Sassuolo despite reports.
Abdallah Sima -- Forward -- Slavia Prague -- £10m -- SIGNED FOR BRIGHTON -- Signed for Brighton. That is all.
Ryan Christie -- Attacking Midfielder -- Celtic -- £6m -- SIGNED FOR BOURNEMOUTH -- The Celtic midfielder appears to be in discussions with Bournemouth about a move to the south coast, a move prompted by his contract nearing expiry.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles -- Central Midfielder -- Arsenal -- £15m -- NO SUFFICIENT BID -- Having risen through the ranks at Arsenal, Maitland-Niles spent the latter stages of last season on loan at West Brom, where he impressed in a defensive role. His flexibility, which sees him comfortable as a full-back or as a central-midfielder, could have made him an attractive prospect. A potential move to Everton hasn't materialised for the player, and having made his views public on Instagram, it appears the club are now making him train with their U23 side.
Eddie Nketiah -- Striker -- Arsenal -- £10m -- COULD'T AGREE PERSONAL TERMS -- Nketiah's contract expires next season and it was believed that this would lead Arsenal to sell the young striker. Palace reportedly offered a 10m take-it-or-leave-it deal to the Gunners but it appears they opted to leave it, prompting Palace to turn their attention to Edouard.
Ademola Lookman -- Winger -- VfB Leipzig -- £10m -- SIGNED FOR LEICESTER CITY -- The VfB Leipzig winger, who had an good season with Fulham last time round, is having a medical with Leicester City prior to a loan move with a view to a permanent transfer.
Reiss Nelson -- Winger -- Arsenal -- £15m -- SIGNED FOR FEYENOORD -- Nelson is negotiating a new deal with Arsenal and due to go out on loan to Feyenoord.
Lewis O'Brien -- Central Midfielder - Huddersfield -- £7m -- WILL HUGHES SIGNED INSTEAD -- Reports suggested that defensive midfielder O'Brien would be an alternative to Will Hughes should that signing not materialise, and now that the Watford midfielder has been secured it makes another midfield signing unlikely. Unfortunately for O'Brien, Leeds Utd are also reported to have pulled out of a move.
Noni Tristan Madueke -- Winger -- PSV -- £10m -- SIGNED NEW CONTRACT -- There have been a few spurious links to the young attacking midfielder, who spent much of his youth at London clubs, including Crystal Palace. Madueke played 24 times for PSV last season, scoring 7 goals, prompting interest from Borussia Dortmund as well as Crystal Palace and Leeds United. He has now signed a new deal with PSV.
Amad Diallo -- Winger -- Manchester United -- Loan -- INJURED - Palace are still hunting for a winger or two, and Diallo didn't look like he'd feature much for Man Utd this season. He was due to sign for Feyenoord, but it's now reported that he's suffered a thigh injury for which he'll need six weeks of recovery.
Adam Armstrong -- Forward -- Blackburn Rovers -- £15m -- SIGNED FOR SOUTHAMPTON -- With his contract coming to an end next season, Blackburn were keen to move the striker on. Despite interest from Palace, Armstrong has now signed a deal with Southampton.
Demarai Gray -- Winger -- Bayer Leverkusen - £2m -- SIGNED FOR EVERTON -- Palace came close to securing the then-Leicester City winger in January but he instead opted for a move to Germany. Gray was available on a reduced fee, and while there was once again interest in him from Palace, he has now signed for Everton.
Dynel Simeu -- Chelsea -- Centre-Back -- SIGNED FOR SOUTHAMPTON -- Palace's search for young centre-backs seemed to have taken them back to Chelsea, with Simeu linked to a move to Palace having turned down a 2-year contract at Stamford Bridge. He has now signed for Southampton and will feature for their B team this season.
David Brooks -- Winger -- Bournemouth -- £20m -- REJECTED BY BOURNEMOUTH -- Another Bournemouth winger that Palace are looking at is David Brooks, although
Alan Nixon at The Sun suggests such a move has already been rebuffed by the South Coast club. Bournemouth reportedly wanted £50m for the 24-year-old after their relegation and are now unwilling to even consider an offer.
Arnaut Danjuma -- Winger -- Bournemouth -- £20m -- SIGNED FOR VILLAREAL -- Dutch winger Danjuma was another attacking player who piqued Palace's interest, with the Eagles looking for more offensive options to call upon. But the former Club Brugge player has now signed for Villareal for a fee of £20m, which is likely to have been more than Palace were willing to spend.
Ozan Kabak -- Centre-Back -- Schalke -- £15m -- SIGNED FOR NORWICH -- Having completed a loan spell at Liverpool, with the club refusing first-option to sign the centre-back on a permanent basis, Kabak appears to be looking for a move away from Schalke this summer, and a loan move to Norwich City is likely.
Radu Dragusin -- Centre-Back -- Juventus -- £10m -- SIGNED NEW CONTRACT -- Romanian international Dragusin has been linked to a move to Palace for more than a year and it was thought he might move to Selhurst Park on a Bosman during the summer, but that opportunity was wiped out when he signed a new deal with the Turin club.
Ozan Tufan -- Midfielder -- Fenerbahce -- £10m -- SIGNED FOR WATFORD -- Tufan was the David Nugent or the Khoumar Babakar of the midfield world, with Palace repeatedly linked to the Turkish international. That move is not happening -- he has now signed for Watford.
Morgan Rogers -- Winger -- Manchester City -- £7m -- SIGNED FOR BOURNEMOUTH -- After reports linking Morgan with Crystal Palace went quiet, it now appears that the young Man City winger will sign for Bournemouth on loan, with the potential for a permanent move should that go well.
Yann Karamoh -- Winger -- Parma -- €10m -- SIGNED FOR SHEFFIELD UTD -- 23-year-old French Ivorian forward Karamoh is a player that Parma are willing to let leave according to
Foot Mercato, with Palace said to be one of a number of clubs interested in him. Karamoh featured in 26 matches for Parma last season, scoring 4 and creating 6 goals for the side as they were relegated to Serie B.
The last time I sold fanzines at a Palace home game, manager Alan Smith was sacked straight after the game.
