25-year-old Danish centre-back Joachim Anderson joins Crystal Palace from Lyon after competing in the Euro 2020 semi-final this summer.
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Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Denmark international defender Joachim Andersen on a five-year deal. The 25-year-old centre-back joins Palace from Lyon, having competed in the Euro 2020 semi-final. Andersen’s career began in his native Denmark. The defender broke into professional football with Dutch side F.C. Twente. Anderson made his mark at the club, going on to be named as the U-19 Talent of the Year by the Danish Football Association.
The 25-year-old joined Serie A side Sampdoria after 50 games with Twente. He played regularly under manager Marco Giampaolo, earning a move to Lyon as a record transfer in summer 2019. Anderson has enjoyed his fair share of action in the Champions League, having featured as a substitute in the semi-final of the 2019/20 edition against Bayern Munich. The defender has further enjoyed his fair share of action in the Premier League, with a season-long loan to Fulham in October 2020.
“I’m extremely proud to be joining Crystal Palace and to be playing in the world’s best football league. The management of the club and Patrick Vieira have given me very strong assurance that they know my qualities, they believe in me and want me to play an important role in the team. I have a very positive impression of Patrick from the conversations I have had with him, and I have heard nothing but great things about the manager, the club and its plans for the future,” stated Anderson.
Chairman Steve Parish hailed the defender as a player he was extremely pleased to welcome to Crystal Palace.
“In Joachim, we have added another highly-rated defender to our squad, and as a player with Premier League and international experience, we are extremely pleased to welcome him to Crystal Palace.”
Anderson becomes the fourth signing under Vieira, following Michael Olise, Remi Matthews and Marc Guehi.
Another interesting transfer is that of goalkeeper Marcus Bettinelli who has joined Chelsea. Bettinelli arrives having been out of contract at Fulham. He will add strength to Chelsea’s goalkeeping resources following the departure of Willy Caballero.
The 6ft 4in keeper spent over a decade at Craven Cottage, making 120 appearances for the Whites.
“It’s always been a special club. I know the area very well so it’s been a dream of mine to come over to this side and it’s finally happened. There were some talks a few years ago when I was a bit younger and for whatever reason that didn’t come about but I’m here now. I’m really excited to be involved and looking forward to trying to impress and help the team as much as I can,” stated Bettinelli after signing a two-year contract at Stamford Bridge.
The goalkeeper started his career at Fulham at the age of 14 and progressed through the ranks before making his club debut at the start of the 2014/15 season following their relegation to the Championship. Prior to that, he had spent time on loan in non-league with Dartford and in League Two at Accrington Stanley. Bettinelli gained experience of senior football as a developing goalkeeper and won the Young Player of the Year award at the Crown Ground.
