Midfielder Cheikou Kouyate has signed a four-year contract with Crystal Palace after the London club agreed his transfer from West Ham United for an undisclosed fee. Kouyate was the captain of the Senegal national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and he has 42 caps for his country. He had joined West Ham United from Anderlecht and went on to score 15 goals in 147 appearances in all competitions for the Hammers. The 28-year-old midfielder was a first-team regular in all his four seasons at West Ham United.
"I'm so happy. It's been a long day but now everything is good and I'm very excited to start with my new team-mates," Kouyate said after having signed the contract with Crystal Palace. "This is the right time to move because I needed a new challenge. I have good memories of West Ham but I need to come here and give my best because I like the Crystal Palace project. I spoke to manager Roy Hodgson and I know he'll be a good manager. I also spoke to Pape Souare and he told me I had to come and now I'm here and I'm very happy."
Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is still looking to secure a few more new players before the transfer window slams shut next week. The Eagles had secured just one transfer before Kouyate as experienced Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita joined on a free transfer. It seems that the next target for Hodgson and Crystal Palace is German attacking midfielder Maximilian Meyer, who is available on a free transfer after his contract with Schalke 04 expired at the end of last season. In April. Meyer was banished from training for the remainder of Schalke's campaign because he refused to extend his contract with the club. He never played again for the Bundesliga side and left the club when the contract expired.
Crystal Palace finished 11th in the Premier League last season and they are 2/1 at Bet365 to finish inside the top half of the table next season.
08/07/18, 06:08:02 PM
