---
title: "Why Evann Guessand’s Return to Crystal Palace Makes Perfect Sense for Pierre Sage"
canonical: "https://readcrystalpalace.com/2026/08/17/evann-guessand-crystal-palace-transfer-return/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Naz Yusuf"
section: "Crystal Palace News"
published: "2026-08-17T16:47:13Z"
modified: "2026-09-22T18:41:15Z"
---

# Why Evann Guessand’s Return to Crystal Palace Makes Perfect Sense for Pierre Sage

There was a brief moment earlier in the summer when the prospect of Evann Guessand putting on a Crystal Palace shirt again looked to have vanished into thin air. Proposals were reportedly knocked back, talk stalled, and it appeared the French forward’s brief stint with South London was destined to remain just that: a fleeting, six-month fling.

Yet in football, windows have a funny way of coming full circle.

The speculation that began gathering pace earlier in the week has now materialised into concrete business. Crystal Palace have [officially confirmed the return of Guessand](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/announcement/evann-guessand-returns-to-crystal-palace/)on a season-long loan deal from Aston Villa for the 2026/27 campaign, complete with a conditional obligation to buy.

For head coach Pierre Sage, appointed back in June, it represents a significant piece of business and a familiar face in what is shaping up to be a transformative first summer transfer window at Selhurst Park.

## A familiar face in a new-look attack

When Pierre Sage took the reins in June 2026, the mandate was obvious: reshape a forward line that had seen high turnover in recent transfer windows.

The French coach has not hung around. Óscar Mingueza, free agent Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Dwight McNeil have already arrived to add depth, versatility, and top-flight quality. But in Guessand, Sage acquires something slightly different—a player who already knows the demands of the system, the layout of the dressing room, and the exact physical rigours of playing under the Selhurst Park lights.

He might technically be a new signing for the 2026/27 season, but Guessand is far from an unfamiliar quantity.

The 25-year-old spent the second half of last season on loan with the Eagles, making 14 appearances and scoring twice. One of those goals proved vital during Palace’s victorious UEFA Conference League campaign a journey that ultimately ended with Guessand featuring in the historic final victory over Rayo Vallecano in Leipzig.

Remarkably, that triumph carved Guessand’s name into European football trivia. Having featured in Aston Villa’s successful UEFA Europa League run earlier in the same campaign before making his mid-season switch to South London, he became the first player ever to lift two different European trophies in the exact same season.

Now, he will be hoping to help Palace conquer the Europa League itself.

Chairman Steve Parish made no secret of the club’s delight at securing the Ivorian international’s return on a long-term arrangement.

> ***“We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to welcome Evann back to Crystal Palace, after he gave us all a glimpse of his undoubted talent last season,” Parish said. “We believe he can help us to deliver similar success this year, as we look forward to another exciting season for the club.”***
>
> The player himself was equally clear about his motivation to finish what he started in South London.
>
> > ***“I’m so happy to be here,” Guessand said. “I already have good memories here – but I think it’s only the beginning. I hope many more are coming.”***
> >
> > ## Big-game pedigree on the international stage
> >
> > Born in Ajaccio and raised in Marseille, Guessand holds dual citizenship and has emerged as a key weapon for the Ivory Coast, amassing 23 senior caps and four goals.
> >
> > His international career kicked off in June 2024 during a World Cup qualifier against Kenya, where he was introduced as a second-half substitute on the left wing. It didn’t take long for him to prove his worth on the grandest stages.
> >
> > At his first major international tournament eight months ago, Guessand delivered a defining moment for *Les Éléphants*. Coming off the bench with 20 minutes remaining in a crucial group-stage fixture against Gabon with his side trailing 2-1, he produced a stunning 84th-minute equaliser, sparking a dramatic 3-2 comeback victory.
> >
> > That impact earned him a starting spot in the Round of 16 a dominant 3-0 win over Burkina Faso followed by another start in the quarter-finals against Egypt, who narrowly edged out a 3-2 victory.
> >
> > His big-game appetite only grew further over the summer in North America, where Guessand featured twice at the 2026 FIFA World Cup Finals, making impactful substitute appearances against both Germany and Norway.
> >
> > His breakout season came at OGC Nice in 2024/25, where he picked up the club’s Player of the Season award after scoring 13 goals in 33 starts, primarily operating from the right wing. Yet his career path which includes valuable developmental spells at Lausanne-Sport and Nantes has molded him into a remarkably complete attacking profile.
> >
> > He is comfortable drifting off the left, leading the line as a central striker, or operating in the pockets directly behind a main number nine. As his former assistant manager at Nice, Lilian Nalis, previously noted:
> >
> > > “He is capable of pulling something out of the bag to make the difference. If he gets in front of you, it’s difficult for defenders to get him back.”
> >
> > That blend of raw power, direct running, and positional fluidity makes him a low-risk, high-reward piece of business for Palace. He understands the environment, fits Sage’s footballing blueprint, and carries genuine European and international credentials.
> >
> > The talk and speculation from earlier in the window can be put to bed. Evann Guessand is back at Selhurst Park and this time, it looks set to be permanent.