Crystal Palace have officially signed Belgian international Christian Benteke on a four-year deal. The Eagles are thought to have paid fellow Premier League club, Liverpool about £27 millions (with further £5millions as add-ons) for the striker.
It was reported on Thursday that the two clubs have come to an agreement on the fees to be paid for the player. The big frontman arrived at London on Friday for his medicals and later completed other formalities on Saturday morning.
Benteke is said to have put pen to a four-year contract and the former Aston Villa man will be earning about £120,000 a week. The Belgian hereby becomes Crystal Palace's most expensive signing (earlier the Eagles' most expensive purchase was Andros Townsend who was bought for £13 Million earlier this summer).
“I’m very happy to commit my future to Crystal Palace and I’m looking forward to meeting the manager, the players and the staff. I feel really happy that the deal has been done and now I can look forward", Benteke told Palace’s official website after signing for the club.
The Belgian then took to social media to thank the Liverpool fans for the support.
"I would like to thank all the amazing supporters that have been there for me even in the hard moments during the season. It was a pleasure playing for such an amazing club as Liverpool FC.
It's an experience I will never forget. #YNWA", he said through his social media accounts.
Benteke, who joined Liverpool from Aston Villa for a fee of £32.5 Million, was the Reds' second most expensive signing. However, the 25-year-old failed to live up to his price tag and failed to make a mark at the Merseyside club.
The striker scored 10 goals from his 42 appearances for the club but still was found to be unwanted at the club. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp doesn't have Benteke in any of his plans for this season and was behind Daniel Sturridge, Divock Origi and Danny Ings in the pecking order.
Liverpool will be happy to have recouped almost all the money they had spent on the striker last summer. If the Reds receive the full amount, Benteke will become Liverpool's fourth biggest sale behind Raheem Sterling, Fernando Torres and Luis Suarez.
Crystal Palace, on the other hand, will be hoping that they have found the solution for their goalscoring problems.
