Crystal Palace have signed Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand on loan until the end of the season with an option to make the move permanent.
The Ivory Coast international only joined Villa from Nice for £26m last summer and has scored two goals in 21 appearances in all competitions.
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With the January arrival of Tammy Abraham from Besiktas for £18.25m, Guessand was likely to be third choice behind England duo Abraham and Ollie Watkins at Villa Park.
Palace are currently 15th in the Premier League, eight points clear of relegation, but sold England defender Marc Guehi to Manchester City, while France striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has told the club he wants to leave.
Boss Oliver Glasner, who will also exit Palace when his contract expires in the summer, said Mateta was also “not in the right place” to play against Nottingham Forest in Sunday’s crucial league game.
But Guessand said the Eagles have “quality” and he was “really excited” to impress.
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“I was waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I’m excited to play with my new team-mates,” added the 24-year-old, who has scored three times in 19 appearances for his country, including one at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
“I think, with the quality we have, we can achieve something.”
Palace boss Glasner also said the club are working “24 hours a day” to bring in further new players.
Chairman Steve Parish said Guessand was an “exciting talent” who the club are “confident will flourish”.
“His arrival further bolsters our forward options as we look to push on in the Premier League and in Europe in the second half of the season,” he added.
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Guessand was voted Nice’s Player of the Season for the 2024-25 campaign after scoring 12 goals as the French club finished fourth in Ligue 1.
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