Crystal Palace land Michael Olise – a leading light in the Championship – on five-year contract

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Reading attacking midfielder Michael Olise.

He has signed a five-year contract and is the Eagles’ first arrival since Patrick Vieira was appointed as manager last weekend.

The Hammersmith-born teenager, 19, scored seven goals and claimed 12 assists from 46 games last season. That saw him win EFL Young Player of the Season and he was included in the Championship Team of the Season as well as the PFA’s Championship Team of the Year.

 Olise has represented France U18s in the Toulon Tournament. He said: “It’s a big moment – Premier League football. It’s a great club and I’m very excited to be here. Good players, a good manager, so I’m ready to start.”

Chairman Steve Parish added: “I’m delighted that Michael has joined us at Crystal Palace. We have been monitoring him extremely closely for an extended period of time, and have been impressed by his consistent performances for Reading at such a young age.

“He clearly has an abundance of talent that I’m sure will excite all of our supporters, and clearly shows our direction of travel for this window.” 

Vieira said: “We have the tools in our football club to make him a better player, and we’ve known him quite well because he’s a player the football club have been following for a long time… I think it is important to refresh the squad, to bring some new faces, to bring young talent here, and this is a really good signing for us.”

PICTURE: cpfc.co.uk/Seb Frej