Crystal Palace have completed their biggest transfer move of the summer not by bringing in a new player but by making sure that one of their current players remains at the club. Winger Wilfried Zaha was persuaded by the Eagles to commit his future to the club and he signed a five-year contract. The 25-year-old Ivory Coast international was linked with a move to Tottenham or Chelsea this summer as contract talks with Crystal Palace seemed to be stalling, but now that the transfer window slammed shut he agreed to sign a new deal.
"I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I can focus on the season," Zaha said in a statement for the Crystal Palace club website. "I'm buzzing that we managed to get it sorted." Wilfried Zaha was elected club Player of the Year for each of the past three seasons and is very appreciated by the Eagles fans because he started his career at Crystal Palace. He joined Manchester United in 2015 but was loaned back to Crystal Palace right away, then to Cardiff and then again to Crystal Palace before making the move back permanent in 2015. He only managed to make four first-team appearances at Manchester United. He has scored 26 goals in 145 appearances in all competitions for Crystal Palace, while last season he scored 9 goals in 29 matches.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said: 'Wilf grew up a stone's throw from Selhurst Park from the age of four, and has been with the club since he was 12. This agreement is yet another example of his lifelong commitment to the club, and our commitment to him. This is an amazing day for everyone here at Palace, our supporters and of course Wilf - and is richly deserved." Crystal Palace started the Premier league season with a 2-0 victory at Fulham last weekend and Wilfried Zaha scored the second goal on 79 minutes.
The Eagles are 5/4 at Bet365 to finish inside the Premier League top ten this season.
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