Crystal Palace recently announced the signing of striker Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal, in a move that took many by surprise. Nketiah, who was expected to join Nottingham Forest, ended up signing with Palace after the two clubs agreed on a fee of approximately £30 million. This unexpected turn of events came after negotiations between Nketiah and Forest hit a roadblock over personal terms. Previously, Nketiah was in talks to join Marseille, but those negotiations fell through, paving the way for Crystal Palace to swoop in.
Upon signing with Crystal Palace, Nketiah expressed his excitement, stating, “It’s amazing to sign for Crystal Palace — I’m excited to get going.” The 25-year-old striker, who started his career with Arsenal at the age of 14, brings a wealth of experience to the team, having scored 38 goals in 168 first-team appearances for the Gunners. Nketiah’s return to South London, where he grew up, holds special significance for him, as he mentioned, “Every time I come back to South London, it always puts a smile on my face, so it’s good to be back home.”
In addition to Nketiah, Crystal Palace also secured the services of French centre-back Maxence Lacroix from VfL Wolfsburg. The 24-year-old defender signed a five-year deal with the club, reuniting with Palace manager Oliver Glasner, who previously coached him at Wolfsburg. Lacroix’s arrival comes after the departure of Joachim Andersen to Fulham, with the Frenchman expected to bolster Palace’s defensive line.
With the signings of Nketiah and Lacroix, Crystal Palace has made significant moves in the summer transfer window to strengthen their squad. Chairman Steve Parish expressed his delight in welcoming Nketiah, highlighting the striker’s status as a senior England international. Parish also praised Nketiah’s energy, talent, and hunger to succeed, predicting that he will quickly endear himself to his new teammates and supporters.
Crystal Palace’s recent acquisitions of Eddie Nketiah and Maxence Lacroix signal the club’s ambition to compete at a high level in the upcoming season. As the team prepares for the challenges ahead, fans can look forward to seeing how these new signings will contribute to Palace’s success on the pitch.
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