🚨JUST IN : “Didn’t think twice” – Player delighted with Crystal Palace transfer, can’t wait for premier league experience

Crystal Palace defender Chadi Riad has insisted he has not thought twice about joining the club this summer and is looking forward to taking on the Premier League’s best.

   The defender spoke to Tampa Hoy about his move from Betis this summer as he prepares for pre-season in America with his new team.

   The centre-back completed a €15m move from Real Betis earlier this month after Crystal Palace quickly added him to Oliver Glasner’s squad.

   An agreement was quickly reached between all parties involved, with Real Betis first signing the Barcelona defender permanently for €9m, before selling him to Crystal Palace for €15m a day later.

   This is the player’s first move outside of Spain in his youth career so far, having started at RCD Mallorca before joining Barcelona’s youth ranks in 2019.

   He worked his way up the ranks at the Camp Nou and La Masia before joining Real Betis on loan in July 2023, and enjoyed a strong campaign under Manuel Pellegrini last year that finally put Crystal Palace on notice and convinced them to move for him.

   Both they and Barcelona were very happy with the deal and it seems that Riyadh was too, expressing his delight at the move to the Premier League.

   “It was always my childhood dream to play in the Premier League, which I believe is one of the best leagues in the world at the moment, and when the offer came I didn’t think twice and said yes,” he said.

   “I’m very happy to be here. All these types of strikers you see so much on TV and the truth is I really want to play against them and give them a good game.”