Peterborough goal-machine only turned professional 12 months ago and was playing Essex Senior League in 2011
Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Peterborough striker Dwight Gayle for an undisclosed fee.
Gayle, who scored 20 goals last season for Dagenham and Redbridge in League One and then Posh in the Championship, has signed a four-year deal with the Premier League new boys.
The top-flight move caps a memorable year for the 22-year-old, who only turned professional 12 months ago after scoring 29 goals during a loan spell at Conference North outfit Bishop's Stortford.
"I'm ecstatic, I just want to get pre-season started now," he told Palace's official website, www.cpfc.co.uk.
"The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I've come from is a big achievement really.
"I'm just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well."
Gayle was playing in the Essex Senior League with Stansted until 2011.
Eagles manager Ian Holloway added on the club website: "I'm absolutely delighted. I was very annoyed when we didn't get him last year, to be honest.
"But now it makes a huge statement for us and it proves that I don't care where I get my people from. I believe it's about how good you're going to be, not just how good you are already.
"I think this fella has got Crystal Palace stamped all over him - the way he moves, the way he chases, the way he works. He's hungry for success and I'm absolutely thrilled that after long conversations we've come up with, I think, a proper Palace player.
"He's got an opportunity now to go and enjoy his football and I think he'll score goals at Premier League level, I really do. He's born to score goals."
Gayle, who scored 20 goals last season for Dagenham and Redbridge in League One and then Posh in the Championship, has signed a four-year deal with the Premier League new boys.
The top-flight move caps a memorable year for the 22-year-old, who only turned professional 12 months ago after scoring 29 goals during a loan spell at Conference North outfit Bishop's Stortford.
"I'm ecstatic, I just want to get pre-season started now," he told Palace's official website, www.cpfc.co.uk.
"The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I've come from is a big achievement really.
"I'm just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well."
Gayle was playing in the Essex Senior League with Stansted until 2011.
Eagles manager Ian Holloway added on the club website: "I'm absolutely delighted. I was very annoyed when we didn't get him last year, to be honest.
"But now it makes a huge statement for us and it proves that I don't care where I get my people from. I believe it's about how good you're going to be, not just how good you are already.
"I think this fella has got Crystal Palace stamped all over him - the way he moves, the way he chases, the way he works. He's hungry for success and I'm absolutely thrilled that after long conversations we've come up with, I think, a proper Palace player.
"He's got an opportunity now to go and enjoy his football and I think he'll score goals at Premier League level, I really do. He's born to score goals."
No comments:
Post a Comment
Have Your Say