Crystal Palace has secured a loan deal for Aston Villa forward Evann Guessand until the end of the season, including an option for a permanent transfer.
The Ivorian player, who joined Villa from Nice for £26 million last summer, has netted two goals in 21 matches across all competitions.
With the recent signing of Tammy Abraham from Besiktas for £18.25 million, Guessand is expected to be third in the pecking order behind England strikers Abraham and Ollie Watkins at Villa Park.
Currently sitting 15th in the Premier League and eight points above the relegation zone, Palace has sold England defender Marc Guehi to Manchester City, while French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta has expressed his desire to leave the club.
Manager Oliver Glasner, who will depart the club when his contract ends this summer, stated that Mateta was “not in the right place” to participate in Sunday’s crucial league match against Nottingham Forest.
Guessand, however, expressed his enthusiasm about joining the Eagles, noting the team has “quality” and he’s “really excited” to showcase his talents.
“I’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time, and I can’t wait to play with my new teammates,” said the 24-year-old, who has scored three goals in 19 appearances for the Ivory Coast, including one at the recent Africa Cup of Nations.
“I believe that with the quality we possess, we can achieve something special.”
Glasner mentioned that the club is dedicated to adding more players, working “24 hours a day” to strengthen the squad.
Chairman Steve Parish described Guessand as an “exciting talent” and expressed confidence that he will thrive at Palace. He added, “His arrival enhances our attacking options as we aim to progress in the Premier League and Europe during the second half of the season.”
In the 2024-25 season, Guessand was voted Nice’s Player of the Season, having scored 12 goals as the club finished fourth in Ligue 1.