Sam Johnstone has agreed to join when his contract with West Bromwich Albion expires this summer.
The goalkeeper’s exit from the Hawthorne’s has long been mooted although Palace only properly entered the frame to sign him last month, with reporting that negotiations for a four-year-deal have been completed.
The Eagles were not the first London club interested in Johnstone, with rejecting a £10million bid from last summer, while Tottenham were continually linked with the 29-year-old but opted to sign Fraser Forster from Southampton instead.
A academy product, Johnstone never made a senior appearance for the Red Devils, instead spending most of his early career on loan before moving to the Hawthorns in 2018, winning promotion to the Premier League in 2020.
Although the Baggies were relegated after just a single season, Johnstone performed admirably, winning the club’s Player of the Year award and earning his first caps for England, before being named in the Three Lions squad for last summer’s Euros.
And while West Brom were unable to return to the top-flight last season, Johnstone continued to show his qualities keeping 15 clean sheets and conceding just 33 goals in 36 games, despite falling out with then-manager Valerian Ismael.
Johnstone will be Palace’s first signing of this window, with Patrick Vieira looking to build upon a very successful first season in charge at Selhurst Park.
‘I’m really pleased with the progress we had [throughout last season],’ the manager recently told the Palace website.
‘We are a different team, we have an identity and a clear idea about how we want to play the game in and out of possession. That is really important for me as a manager. Having said that, we can always improve.’
As for where Johnstone will fit in in South London, Vicente Guaita is the No.1 keeper, but he will turn 36 next season so Johnstone is likely to be phased into starting XI as the campaign progresses.
But the signing does not bode well for current second-choice keeper Jack Butland, who will now likely be sold, or at least loaned out, with Middlesbrough said to be interested in his services.
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