Connor Wickham to Crystal Palace: Former Sunderland striker hails 'very good' Eagles

Eagles swoop to land Sunderland striker for reported £9m fee

(Getty)

Crystal Palace have signed striker Connor Wickham on a five-year contract from Sunderland for an undisclosed fee, thought to be around £9m, the London club have announced.

Upon joining the Eagles, Wickham said: "I spoke to the gaffer last week and he said all the right things about the club and I've got friends here who also told me some very good things.

"I looked at the team before I arrived here and the signings that have been brought in, and the potential to score goals and the chances that could be created was a massive influence. Hopefully I can add to that talent and make the squad stronger."

Wickham scored 15 goals in 91 games for Sunderland and helped them avoid the drop in 2013-14 when he netted five in their last six games.

The 22-year-old joined the Black Cats in 2011 from Ipswich, where he made his debut aged just 16 years and 11 days.

But the England Under-21 international struggled to make a consistent impact at Sunderland after an £8million move and was loaned out to Leeds and Sheffield Wednesday during his time in the north-east.

PA.