Crystal Palace’s Premier League start was a disaster. Also because the offense isn’t working yet. Shortly before the transfer deadline, coach Oliver Glasner therefore got a new goalscorer in Eddie Nketiah
After a promising start to the Oliver Glasner era at Crystal Palace – the Austrian took over last February – fans were eagerly anticipating the new season in the summer. However, the euphoria was dampened by the first two Premier League appearances: The Eagles lost 2-1 away at Brentford – and then also lost their home opener against West Ham (2-0).
Palace were particularly disappointing in attack at the start of the season. Eddie Nketiah is set to remedy the situation with immediate effect. The striker, who was hotly courted by Olympique Marseille and others this summer, is moving to Palace from Arsenal FC (contract until 2027). According to information from The Athletic, a basic transfer fee of just under €30 million will be paid, with €6 million in bonuses potentially on top of that
His new five-year contract with the London city rivals runs from now until June 30, 2029. Nketiah will compete with former Mainz player Jean-Philippe Mateta, who had a difficult start to last season under Glasner, and Frenchman Odsonne Edouard, among others.
The speedy Nketiah brings a new element to Palace’s attacking play compared to the brawny strikers. After Chadi Riad, Ismaila Sarr and Daichi Kamada, the one-time England international is the fourth new summer signing
The big breakthrough always eluded him
Nketiah moved from Chelsea FC’s youth ranks to Arsenal FC in the summer of 2015. The London-born goalscorer with Ghanaian roots waited in vain for his breakthrough with the Gunners. In 27 Premier League appearances in the pre-season, he was only in the starting eleven ten times. He scored five goals and provided two assists.
In total, Nketiah leaves Arsenal with 116 Premier League appearances, in which he scored 19 goals and provided five assists. At Palace, he would certainly like to reach these dimensions in terms of direct goal contributions – albeit in a single season.
