Crystal Palace got it right when deciding to sign Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa. The Ivorian forward struggled to impress at Villa Park but has been a hit under Oliver Glasner.
Guessand joined Palace on loan in January after failing to convince Unai Emery. He joined the Villans from French side Nice in August 2025 for around £30.5m.
The 24-year-old was expected to become a key man under Emery given his form in Ligue 1. While that didn’t occur, he has bounced back at Selhurst Park and become a fan favourite with impressive displays.
Glasner got Guessand
Guessand came off the bench and scored a vital last-gasp winner in a 1-0 win over Wolverhampton Wanderers (February 22nd). He’s now bagged two goals and one assist in seven games since making the loan move to South London.
Palace have a £28m buy option included in the loan deal but he must first fulfil certain conditions to secure a permanent transfer. He appears happy at Selhurst Park and could play an important role in the club’s Europa Conference League knockout campaign.
According to Jacob Tanswell of The Athletic, Villa “believe he is better suited to Palace’s system.” It’s pointed out that “he can struggle in tight areas, but is physical and athletic, making him good in transition — a staple of Palace’s play.”
| Appearances (starts): | 18 (8) |
| Goals: | 1 |
| Expected goals (xG): | 1.52 |
| Total shots: | 0.6 |
| Goal conversion: | 10% |
| Assists: | 2 |
| Key passes: | 0.3 |
| Successful dribbles: | 0.6 (32%) |
| Ground duels won: | 3.0 (44%) |
Glasner has certainly got the best out of the versatile attacker who he has used as a left-winger three times. The Austrian also played a crucial role in bringing him to the club.
Guessand was convinced by Glasner and it’s suggested that the 51-year-old’s track record of success explaining where and how new signings will fit in paid dividends.
Make it happen
For Guessand to earn a Palace permanent move he will have to meet a set number of appearances and eight goal involvements. The Eagles paid a £2m loan fee for the Ivorian and fans are certainly in favour of him extending his stay at Selhurst Park.
Making the Villa loanee the club’s first signing this summer makes sense given his displays thus far. It seems like an easy decision if he meets the criteria required for the buy option to come into play.
Guessand was extremely enthusiastic when arriving at the club in January. He told club media:
“I’m really, really excited. I was waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I’m excited to play with my new teammates. I think, with the quality we have, we can achieve something.”
Guessand’s versatility is a huge asset and he has performed well while others have faltered. Yeremy Pino hasn’t lived up to his £26m price tag and the same goes for Brennan Johnson who cost £35m.
