Crystal Palace sign Ismaila Sarr in £12.7m deal to bolster attack

Evening Standard

·1 August 2024

Crystal Palace sign Ismaila Sarr in £12.7m deal to bolster attack

Former Watford winger arrives to help replace Michael Olise

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Ismaila Sarr from Marseille for a fee of around £12.7million.

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The 24-year-old winger lost his way in France after joining in the summer of 2023 following four years at Watford.

Palace have been long-term admirers of the Senegal international and have now got their man, who joins on a five-year deal.

The versatile winger will help bolster Palace’s attack following the £50m departure of talisman Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.

The 2021 Africa Cup of Nations winner said: “I am very happy to be here because Crystal Palace is a great club. Thanks to the coach [Oliver Glasner] and the sporting director [Dougie Freedman] — they told me about their project, and I accepted because it is a good project.

“I am going to work hard on the pitch and off the pitch for the team and for the fans as well.”

Glasner added: “We're happy that Ismaila has decided to join Crystal Palace because he knows the Premier League when he played at Watford, he knows living in England, and he also had many games with Marseille last season.

“In every year, in every club where he was, he's showed that he can score goals. He showed it as well in the national team for Senegal, so we are really pleased that he will join our group.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish also welcomed the versatile attacker to the club.

He said: “We have been admirers of Ismaila for some time now and are delighted to be able to welcome him to the club.

“He is a player who has proven his ability both in English football and on the European and international stage, and I am confident he will be a valuable addition to Oliver’s squad.”