Crystal Palace add England international Nketiah and USA keeper Turner to their ranks
Eddie Nketiah one of the new signings for Crystal Palace Credit: Michael P Ryan (ETPhotos)
Crystal Palace have strengthened their squad with the addition of two new players: striker Eddie Nketiah from Arsenal and goalkeeper Matt Turner on loan from Nottingham Forest.
Eddie Nketiah, who grew up in Deptford, South London, returns to his roots with a five-year contract with Palace.
The 24-year-old forward started his career in Chelsea’s youth setup before moving to Arsenal at the age of 14.
He made an immediate impact in the Gunners' youth teams, scoring an impressive 39 goals in 39 games for the Under-18s, which quickly earned him a spot in the first team.
Over his time at Arsenal, Nketiah scored 38 goals in 168 appearances.
Nketiah also brings international experience to Palace, having represented England at both Under-21 and senior levels.
He broke the England Under-21s goalscoring record in 2020 with 16 goals in 17 games and made his senior debut for England against Australia last October.
Speaking about his move, Nketiah said, "It's amazing to sign for Crystal Palace – I'm excited to get going. Every time I come back to South London, it always puts a smile on my face, so it’s good to be back home."
In addition to Nketiah, Palace have bolstered their goalkeeping options by signing Matt Turner on loan from Nottingham Forest for the remainder of the 2024/25 season.
The 30-year-old American international, capped 44 times for his country, brings a wealth of experience from both the MLS and the Premier League.
Turner's career highlights include being named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2021 CONCACAF Gold Cup and winning the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year award in 2021. After a stint with Arsenal in 2022, he played regularly for Forest last season, featuring in 21 matches.
Turner is eager to make an impact at Palace, stating, "I'm really excited to be here – and I'm ready to get to work. I've heard a lot about [goalkeeping coach] Dean Kiely from Wayne Hennessey, and obviously Dean [Henderson] and Remi [Matthews] have got a lot of experience, so it'll be great to get to know them, learn how they work, support them in whatever ways I can, but also push them to be the best versions of themselves."
