Crystal Palace have completed the signing of teenage winger Romain Esse from Millwall.
The 19-year-old playmaker has signed a five-and-a-half-year deal at Selhurst Park and will be available for selection for Palace’s Premier League match against Brentford on Sunday, January 26.
Palace activated a release clause in the England youth international’s contract, which was signed in August last year and due to expire in the summer of 2026. The £12million initial fee, which could rise to £14m in potential add-ons, represents a club-record sale for Millwall.
“I’m very excited to be here. It’s a good project and a good opportunity, so I just can’t wait to get started,” said Esse, who registered five goals and one assist in 26 appearances for Millwall this season.
Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We are delighted to welcome Romain to Crystal Palace, and we’re looking forward to working with him to continue his impressive progress to date.
“Romain is the type of player who gets crowds off their seats – the type of player long associated with South London and Crystal Palace Football Club – and everyone at the club is looking forward to watching him shine on the pitch, and fulfil his exciting potential.”
The transfer is the latest deal to be struck by sporting director Dougie Freedman, who has earned plaudits for identifying and acquiring promising young talents from English football’s second tier. Eberechi Eze, Adam Wharton and Michael Olise — now at Bayern Munich — were all signed from the Championship with Freedman tasked with leading Palace recruitment.
Palace, 15th in the Premier League table, have been keen to add attacking reinforcements in January as they look to pull clear of the relegation zone in the second half of the campaign.
The Athletic previously reported that the Selhurst Park club had a £15m bid rejected for Liverpool forward Ben Doak, who is currently on loan at Middlesbrough.
Esse has represented England from under-18 to under-20 level and broke through at The Den in 2022 before signing his first professional contract in January 2023.
(Warren Little/Getty Images)
