Crystal Palace smash Millwall’s club record to sign teenager who ‘gets crowds off their seats’
Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of teenager Romain Esse from Millwall. talkSPORT understands the Eagles will pay around £14million for Esse, who signs a five-and-a-half-year deal and will wear the No.21 shirt. Esse has swapped The Den for Selhurst ParkGetty It marks a club-record sale for Millwall, more than doubling the £6.6m fee Middlesbrough paid for George Saville in 2019. Esse will not be available for Saturday’s trip to West Ham but can make his Premier League debut at home to Brentford on January 26. Newcastle, Brighton and Bournemouth were all linked with a move for the highly-rated 19-year-old. Esse came through the Lions’ youth system and made his debut for the senior team as a late substitute on Boxing Day 2022 in a 2-0 win against Watford, aged 17. The versatile attacking midfielder properly broke into the first-team this season, starting all but one Championship match, scoring four goals and registering one assist. Upon arrival at Selhurst Park, Esse said: “I’m very excited to be here. It’s a good project and a good opportunity, so I just can’t wait to get started.” Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “We are delighted to welcome Romain to Crystal Palace, and we’re looking forward to working with him to continue his impressive progress to date. “Romain is the type of player who gets crowds off their seats – the type of player long associated with South London and Crystal Palace Football Club – and everyone at the club is looking forward to watching him shine on the pitch, and fulfil his exciting potential.” Esse has also represented England at youth level with 22 appearances for the Young Lions, most recently turning out for the Under-20s. Palace manager Oliver Glasner needs a spark as they sit 15th in the Premier League, eight points off relegation. Palace have beaten a number of Premier League rivals to EsseGetty View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/CPFC?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw It is in stark contrast to the conclusion of last season when they went undefeated in their last seven matches. With Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise all thriving, they beat Aston Villa 5-0, smashed Manchester United 4-0 and even beat Liverpool. They finished tenth despite battling relegation earlier in the season and looked like they could push on for a better position this campaign. However, Bayern Munich swooped in for the £50.7m signature of Olise and since then the French international has been a big miss in south London. Former Watford man Ismaila Sarr was brought in for £12.5m but has not been able to replicate Olise’s numbers. The 26-year-old has scored four and assisted three in 21 league matches. Palace have struggled since Olise’s move to BayernGetty Fans will hope Esse can inject more dynamism into their attack and bring the joy back to their spectator experience.
Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of teenager Romain Esse from Millwall.
talkSPORT understands the Eagles will pay around £14million for Esse, who signs a five-and-a-half-year deal and will wear the No.21 shirt.
It marks a club-record sale for Millwall, more than doubling the £6.6m fee Middlesbrough paid for George Saville in 2019.
Esse will not be available for Saturday’s trip to West Ham but can make his Premier League debut at home to Brentford on January 26.
Newcastle, Brighton and Bournemouth were all linked with a move for the highly-rated 19-year-old.
Esse came through the Lions’ youth system and made his debut for the senior team as a late substitute on Boxing Day 2022 in a 2-0 win against Watford, aged 17.
The versatile attacking midfielder properly broke into the first-team this season, starting all but one Championship match, scoring four goals and registering one assist.
Upon arrival at Selhurst Park, Esse said: “I’m very excited to be here. It’s a good project and a good opportunity, so I just can’t wait to get started.”
Palace chairman Steve Parish added: “We are delighted to welcome Romain to Crystal Palace, and we’re looking forward to working with him to continue his impressive progress to date.
“Romain is the type of player who gets crowds off their seats – the type of player long associated with South London and Crystal Palace Football Club – and everyone at the club is looking forward to watching him shine on the pitch, and fulfil his exciting potential.”
Esse has also represented England at youth level with 22 appearances for the Young Lions, most recently turning out for the Under-20s.
Palace manager Oliver Glasner needs a spark as they sit 15th in the Premier League, eight points off relegation.
It is in stark contrast to the conclusion of last season when they went undefeated in their last seven matches.
With Eberechi Eze, Jean-Philippe Mateta and Michael Olise all thriving, they beat Aston Villa 5-0, smashed Manchester United 4-0 and even beat Liverpool.
They finished tenth despite battling relegation earlier in the season and looked like they could push on for a better position this campaign.
However, Bayern Munich swooped in for the £50.7m signature of Olise and since then the French international has been a big miss in south London.
Former Watford man Ismaila Sarr was brought in for £12.5m but has not been able to replicate Olise’s numbers.
The 26-year-old has scored four and assisted three in 21 league matches.
Fans will hope Esse can inject more dynamism into their attack and bring the joy back to their spectator experience.
