Crystal Palace handed unexpected transfer windfall after £16.4m Premier League deal completed

Crystal Palace will welcome surprise funds boost as star makes Premier League return

Crystal Palace have been handed a surprise profit package following defender Jake O’Brien’s move from Lyon back to the Premier League. O’Brien recently signed with the Eagles rivals Everton and, according to reports from the South London Press, via London News Online, the Selhurst Park side were to be due 15 per cent of the profit from O’Brien’s next move.

Palace parted ways with O’Brien in 2023 with the latter having enjoyed two loan spells at Swindon Town and RWD Molenbeek. He was sold to Lyon – who is owned by Eagles co-owner John Textor – for a fee said to be in the region of £1m and after making his Ligue 1 debut in October, became the first Irishman since Tony Cascarino in 2000 to play in Ligue 1. He made 32 appearances for Lyon across all competitions, scoring five goals and picking up two assists

A year on, however, and the centre-back has come back to the Premier League, signing a four year deal with the Toffees. The deal is reported to be worth £16.4 million and he becomes the Toffees fifth summer signing after midfielder Tim Iroegbunam, forwards Iliman Ndiaye and Jesper Lindstrom, and the return of Jack Harrison on loan from Leeds.

Speaking after the deal was confirmed, O’Brien said: “I’m buzzing and so happy to have signed. I’ve been dreaming of this kind of move in the Premier League, with such a historic club. It’s very exciting move for me. When the transfer window opened there were other clubs in for me but there was only one club I wanted to go to – it was Everton. They’ve shown the faith in me so now it’s my turn to show why on the pitch.”