Crystal Palace pay tribute to Wilfried Zaha as he completes his £8m-a-year move to Galatasaray… with the club lauding him as the ‘best player to ever wear the red and blue shirt’

Crystal Palace have paid tribute to former winger Wilfried Zaha after the 30-year-old completed a move to Turkish Super Lig giants Galatasaray.

Zaha is a product of the Palace academy and made his debut in 2010 before going on to feature 458 times for the Eagles either side of a short spell with Manchester United.

The Ivory Coast international’s contract at the Selhurst Park expired at the end of June and he has subsequently been linked with moves to Saudi Arabia and PSG before settling on a three-year deal with Galatasaray.

Palace, who last month confirmed that veteran manager Roy Hodgson will continue as manager for the upcoming season, named the winger as the ‘best player to ever pull on the red and blue shirt’ in a statement on Tuesday.

While Hodgson and chairman Steve Parish eulogised a legend of the south London club.

Wilfried Zaha completed a lucrative move to Turkish Super Lig outfit Galatasaray from Palace

Zaha was welcomed by Galatasaray fans upon his arrival in the country late on Sunday night

Palace chairman Steve Parish praised Zaha’s efforts and called him the club’s greatest player

‘Wilfried Zaha leaves the club having been our best and most influential player,’ Parish said. 

‘As much as we would have loved him to stay, after long discussions it became clear he wanted a different challenge, to experience something new and somewhere different before the end of his career, and I think that’s something we can all understand.

‘I would like to personally thank Wilfried for everything he has done for this football club. He leaves as our most capped Academy graduate, our talisman, our greatest player, and he leaves lifelong friends behind. 

‘He remains a true inspiration for all our young players in the Academy and at the early stages of their Palace career – all of whom dream of being the next Zaha.

‘We would not be the club we are today without Wilfried. We are entering our 11th consecutive season in the top flight, and he has spearheaded the vast majority of those campaigns. 

‘A phenomenal player, who gave us incredible moments on the pitch and worked hard in the community helping inspire people off it, he will be treasured in all of our memories.’

In 13 years in the senior team, Zaha scored 90 goals, including 68 in the Premier League. He was voted the club’s Player of the Season in three consecutive years and  become a menace to top sides in the division. 

Zaha endured a disappointing spell at Old Trafford following his departure in 2013 that made him the final signing in the storied career of Sir Alex Ferguson.

The tricky winger would eventually make a return to Palace in 2015 and has long been linked with another move to an elite side on account of his continued threat on the Palace flanks.

Zaha won the penalty in extra-time of the 2013 Championship Play-off Final, which was converted by Kevin Phillips to trigger a new era in Palace history in the Premier League

Roy Hodgson echoed Parish’s words and wished the 30-year-old the best with his new team

Hodgson, who managed the winger for a total of five seasons either side of his jaunt with London rivals Watford, echoed Parish’s words and lauded the club ‘icon’.

‘I was really sad to hear that Wilf has decided to leave and start a new chapter in his footballing life,’ Hodgson said. I was always hoping that he would commit his future to the club and I would have the benefit of working with him again this season.

‘I can only endorse all that the Chairman has said, which encapsulates everything that I and the coaching staff who have worked with Wilfried closely, feel. 

‘I would like to thank him personally for everything he did during my time as manager.

‘The club is losing an iconic figure and although we regret that it has not been possible to persuade Wilfried to stay longer, we can only wish the very best of luck to him and his family in their new venture.’