The club have today announced the signing of France international and former Newcastle United player Yohan Cabaye on a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee, which has been widely reported to be £10m up-front as well as £2.8m in add-ons.
Cabaye has been heavily linked to the club in the past couple of weeks with rumours over the past week intensifying with updates on the story almost everyday from both UK and French media, both of which have been following the story very closely. The deal to bring Cabaye to Selhurst Park is a new transfer record for the club which was last held by the transfer of James McArthur from Wigan Athletic for £7m last September.
The 29-year-old returned to France and moved to Paris St Germain in January 2014 from Newcastle for a fee believed to be around £17.5m. He went on to make 57 appearances at the Paris-based side, scoring three goals which were evenly shared between Ligue 1, Coupe de France and the Champions League.
Speaking to the official website about the move, the new signing Yohan Cabaye had the following to say: “I’m happy to be here. I’ve been waiting for the decision, had the medical and now I can’t wait to focus on my new team, a new season and my new life.
“I wanted to come and play for Palace because there are some really strong players here. They finished very well last season and I think they can compete to get into the top eight.
“I also know the gaffer and have worked with him before and I’m confident with him. I want to do my best for him because he’s made a big effort to get me to come here, as well as the Chairman, so I have to say a big thank you to both of them.”
He joins up with his former Newcastle boss Alan Pardew at Crystal Palace and is looking forward to working with him again in a project at Selhurst Park, in a season that it is believed by the fans and pundits that could pull a number of surprises after the club’s top ten finish last season in the Premier League.
