Crystal Palace complete £7m move for a player worth £56m in genius transfer deal hours ahead of Aston Villa clash

Crystal Palace Complete Dramatic Late Signing Hours Ahead of Crucial Aston Villa Clash

In a thrilling twist on the eve of their Premier League showdown, Crystal Palace have pulled off a stunning last-minute transfer coup, finalizing the signing of a key player mere hours before hosting high-flying Aston Villa at Selhurst Park on Wednesday, January 7, 2026.

The Eagles, currently battling a tricky mid-season dip and sitting 15th in the table after a winless run stretching seven games across all competitions, have been crying out for reinforcements. With injuries piling up—most notably right wing-back Daniel Munoz sidelined, Nathaniel Clyne ruled out with concussion, and several others unavailable—manager Oliver Glasner has faced mounting pressure to bolster his squad.

Enter the new arrival: French right-back Sacha Boey, secured from Bayern Munich in a deal reportedly worth around £15 million (with potential add-ons). The 25-year-old, who has attracted interest from several Premier League clubs including Palace throughout the January window, has penned a long-term contract and is set to be immediately available for selection.

Boey’s arrival is particularly timely. Palace’s defensive issues on the flanks have been exposed in recent outings, and the versatile defender—capable of operating on either side—brings experience from the Bundesliga and Champions League football. His pace, attacking thrust, and defensive solidity could provide the perfect solution as Glasner considers handing a rare start to youngster Jaydee Canvot or reshuffling his backline.

The transfer was confirmed late Tuesday evening, with club sources describing it as a “race against time” to register the player ahead of the 19:30 GMT kick-off against Unai Emery’s third-placed Aston Villa side. Villa, boasting an impressive run of form with nine wins from their last ten Premier League matches, arrive in south London full of confidence after a convincing victory over Nottingham Forest. Ollie Watkins and Morgan Rogers lead a potent attack that has seen Villa scoring freely, making this a daunting prospect for the Eagles.

Glasner, whose position has come under scrutiny amid links to bigger clubs, hailed the signing as a “massive boost” in pre-match comments. “We needed quality and depth, especially with our injury situation,” he said. “Sacha is a player with real pedigree, and his arrival gives us options and energy at a critical moment.”

The deal eclipses earlier January activity for Palace, who had already broken their club record earlier in the window with the £35m signing of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham. While that forward addition provided attacking flair, Boey’s defensive reinforcement addresses a more pressing need ahead of this fixture.

Palace supporters will hope the new signing injects momentum into a side that has struggled for consistency since Christmas. A positive result against Villa—where the Eagles have dominated recent head-to-heads—could spark a revival and ease mounting pressure.

As Selhurst Park braces for an electric atmosphere, all eyes will be on whether Boey makes an immediate impact. This late drama has added extra spice to what promises to be a fiercely contested London encounter.