Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Matheus Franca from Flamengo.
The 19-year-old has signed a five-year deal with the south London club.
He’s here.
Welcome to Palace, Matheus França 🇧🇷
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) August 5, 2023
Matheus Franca said: “I’m very happy to be here. I hope I can bring good results for our supporters, for the other players and everybody else in the team.
“I’m very excited for my first game here at my new home, giving my best for my new team. I hope all the supporters are happy with me coming here. I bet it is going to be good for all of us.”
Chairman Steve Parish added: “Matheus is a young and exciting player whose impressive early progress we have followed with keen interest, and we are delighted to welcome him to the club.
“Palace have a long history of attacking players with skill, pace, and tenacity, and I am sure Matheus will be another popular addition to the nucleus of this young and entertaining squad, packed full of international talent and potential, that we are building here in south London.”
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The Athletic reported last month that Palace had reached a verbal agreement with Flamengo to sign Matheus Franca.
Palace had made Matheus Franca their number one target to replace Wilfried Zaha, who has since joined Turkish side Galatasaray after his contract expired with the Premier League club.
Matheus Franca made his Flamengo debut in 2021 and has so far played 59 games for the Brazilian side, scoring 19 goals.
He has also been capped at under-20s level by Brazil.
Matheus Franca becomes Palace’s second signing of the summer after Jefferson Lerma, who joined on a free transfer after leaving Bournemouth.
‘Two-footed, energetic and versatile’
Jack Lang has written a detailed background profile of Matheus Franca, speaking to those who have coached the young Brazilian at Flamengo, the club that launched the careers of Vinicius Junior and Lucas Paqueta.
“Franca has good close control and dribbles confidently, with his head up. He is also a capable finisher with both feet, which helped him rack up plenty of goals at youth level.
“The youngster can play on either wing, as a No 10, as a second striker or as a false nine. Franca, at this stage in time, is an erratic player. He produces moments that make you shift to the edge of your seat, but he often follows them up with silly mistakes. He gives the ball away too much and frequently chooses the wrong option.”
GO DEEPER
Two-footed, energetic and versatile, Matheus Franca is a gem that needs polishing
(Photo: James Williamson – AMA/Getty Images)