Crystal Palace sign £26m wonderkid Matheus Franca to replace Wilfried Zaha

Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Matheus Franca from Flamengo.

The Brazilian winger will cost up to £26million after agreeing a five-year deal at Selhurst Park.

Franca told the Eagles website: “I’m very happy to be here. I hope I can bring good results for our supporters, for the other players and everybody else in the team.

“I’m very excited for my first game here at my new home, giving my best for my new team. I hope all the supporters are happy with me coming here. I bet it is going to be good for all of us.”

The 19-year-old is tipped to fill the gap left by Wilfried Zaha after he departed for Galatasaray on a free transfer last month.

Palace confirmed the deal on Saturday with Franca their second signing of the summer, following Jefferson Lerma’s arrival from Bournemouth.

He is their second-most expensive signing of all-time, behind the £27m Christian Benteke.

Chairman Steve Parish said: “Matheus is a young and exciting player whose impressive early progress we have followed with keen interest, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club.

“Palace have a long history of attacking players with skill, pace, and tenacity, and I am sure Matheus will be another popular addition to the nucleus of this young and entertaining squad, packed full of international talent and potential, that we are building here in south London.”

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of Brazilian attacker Matheus Franca from Flamengo.

The 19-year-old arrives at Selhurst Park for a reported £26m and becomes just their second signing of the summer window after the free transfer of Jefferson Lerma.

Franca had supposedly been attracting interest from Chelsea after breaking into the Flamengo first team, but Palace have won the race to bring him to the Premier League.

“I’m very happy to be here. I hope I can bring good results for our supporters, for the other players and everybody else in the team,” Franca told cpfc.co.uk.

“I’m very excited for my first game here at my new home, giving my best for my new team. I hope all the supporters are happy with me coming here. I bet it is going to be good for all of us.”

Chairman Steve Parish added: “Matheus is a young and exciting player whose impressive early progress we have followed with keen interest, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club.

The 2004-born attacker leaves Flamengo having scored nine goals in 54 matches for the Brazilian giants across all tournaments, winning the Copa Libertadores and Copa do Brasil in 2022.

Franca netted three goals in 29 outings for the South American giants in the 2023 campaign before making the switch to Selhurst Park, and he is comfortable as a right winger and attacking midfielder.

The teenager also boasts two caps for Brazil’s Under-20 team, although he failed to make their squad for the recent World Cup and is still waiting for his maiden international appearance at senior level.

OFFICIAL;Crystal Palace won the battle race to sign £26m wonderkid striker

Crystal Palace sign £26m wonderkid Matheus Franca to replace Wilfried Zaha

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