Charlie Walker-Smith has emerged as one of the Crystal Palace academy players hoping to impress Pierre Sage after being included in the new manager’s first senior training session.
The 18-year-old trained alongside Joel Drakes-Thomas, Mofe Jemide, Dean Benamar and George King as Palace began pre-season preparations at Copers Cope.
Several senior players remain away following the World Cup, giving Sage an early opportunity to assess the club’s younger prospects.
Walker-Smith is less familiar to many supporters than some of the other academy players involved. However, his performances at under-18 and under-21 level have marked him out as one of Palace’s more interesting defensive talents.
Walker-Smith is more than a conventional centre-back
Walker-Smith joined Palace at under-13 level and was part of the team that won the Premier League Under-15 Super Floodlit Cup in 2023.
He operates mainly at centre-back but can also cover at right-back. Palace’s official academy profile highlights his ability to drive forward from defence and build attacks from deeper positions.
Those qualities have led to comparisons with Declan Rice.
The similarity is based largely on Walker-Smith’s strong frame, composure in possession and willingness to carry the ball through midfield. Rice also began his senior development as a centre-back before establishing himself as an elite central midfielder.
It would be premature to predict the same transition for Walker-Smith.
His immediate pathway remains in defence, where his physical profile and confidence on the ball suit the demands placed on a modern centre-back. The comparison offers a useful picture of his playing style rather than a forecast of his career.
Walker-Smith also contributes in the opposition penalty area. He recorded six goals and three assists across Palace’s academy sides last season, with much of his threat coming from set-pieces and his long throw.
That delivery has already created goals for Palace’s under-18s. Two dangerous long throws caused problems during May’s 3-3 draw against Brighton, including the sequence which led to Palace’s second goal.
Sage has reason to assess Palace’s academy options
Palace’s pre-season circumstances have created an opening.
Maxence Lacroix remains with France at the World Cup and continues to attract interest from Chelsea. Several other senior internationals are also yet to report back.
Sage therefore needs academy players to support training numbers, but the opportunity can still carry longer-term significance.
ReadCrystalPalace recently examined why supporters want Sage to give David Ozoh a genuine senior opportunity. The new manager’s willingness to assess Walker-Smith and other prospects suggests every returning or emerging player will begin with a chance to make an impression.
European football should also create more routes into the team.
Palace will need to manage Premier League, domestic cup and Europa League fixtures. Young players who show they can be trusted could earn minutes during the early rounds or provide cover when the schedule becomes congested.
Walker-Smith’s versatility may help. A defender who can play centrally or on the right offers Sage more flexibility in a back three or back four.
Palace should protect his development
A strong pre-season would not mean Walker-Smith is ready to replace Lacroix.
Palace would still need a proven senior centre-back if Chelsea meet their valuation for the Frenchman. ReadCrystalPalace has already explained why Óscar Mingueza provides defensive flexibility without being a direct Lacroix replacement.
Walker-Smith should be treated with similar patience.
The Wales youth international is still developing physically and tactically. Training with the senior squad can expose him to a higher speed of play without immediately placing the responsibility of Premier League football on him.
His first target is to remain involved throughout pre-season and show Sage that his ability in possession translates against senior opponents.
The Rice comparison provides an eye-catching introduction. Walker-Smith’s own qualities are already interesting enough: he is physically strong, comfortable carrying the ball and capable of influencing matches from set-pieces.
Sage’s first training session has given him an early platform. The coming weeks will show whether he can turn that invitation into a more regular place around the first team.
