West Ham has confirmed that Cheikhou Kouyate has joined Crystal Palace on a permanent four-year contract for an undisclosed fee thought to be worth £9.5m plus a further £1.5m of add-ons. The Senegal international leaves the Hammers having made 147 appearances and scored 15 goals across four seasons.
The midfielder joined from Belgian club Anderlecht for £7m in summer 2014 and was part of the side which qualified for European football in both 2015 and 2016.
Speaking to Palace TV, he said: “I’m so happy. It’s been a long day but now everything is good and I’m very excited to start with my new teammates. This is the right time to move because I needed a new challenge. I have good memories of West Ham but I need to come here and give my best because I like the Crystal Palace project.
“I spoke to the manager and I know he’ll be a good manager. I also spoke to Pape Souare yesterday and he told me I had to come and now I’m here and I’m very happy.”
Right time for Chek to move on as clearly he needs a new challenge in order to rediscover his earlier form. Good move for us too as he was only going to warm the bench and snipe from the shadows. Only question I have is why we didn’t hold out for more in the current market? Irrespective of form, he is a multi-capped international and CP are looking to replace Loftus-Cheek so we should have started at £15m.
Shame. I can’t see who’s going to win the midfield battles and do the dirty work for us now. He’s very good at breaking up opposition attacks and starting ours. He’s also a presence in both boxes. Be interesting to see what business we do next. Good luck Chiekhou.
Good luck Cheik. Always positive and really plugged a gap for us for a couple of seasons.
I’d like to thank Cheikh for his time with us despite not having his best season last time he had some great games and was a team player who loved playing for us but as said by others on an earlier post suffered at the mouths and keyboard fingers of this strange new breed of fans who love to hate their own. I think he was probably aware of this and it affected his form and decision to leave.
I also agree with earlier comments that we do seem to sell cheap maybe Sean or Hugh has an angle on this.
Anyway I wish him personal luck but not team success as I have no time for Palace the most fake team around.
Thank you Cheikh, please remember the vast majority of us loved you so have an off day when we see you next season please.
He scored against, Spurs, Arsenal, Chelsea. Ill remember these goals, best of luck.
Probably was the right time, as I don’t think he would have been guaranteed a place in Pellegrini’s new set-up. Of course, his place in our history was assured the second he put in the first goal at the OS.
I will miss seeing him in the team, never shirked a challenge, put his head in where the boots are flying, scored goals when we were in tough matches, his chances would have been limited because our style of play is going to change under Pellegrini I can only wish him the best of luck except against us, good luck Cheikh !!!
I wish nothing but good luck to Chek at one time thought he’d make centre mid his own,I think it’s a good move for both him and West Ham he needed a fresh challenge and we’ve outgrown him the only downside is he didn’t go abroad.COYI
I feel very sad – he was my favourite player
As someone said it was sad to see teh keyboard warriors turn on him
Sad day he was West Ham through & through and peanuts really what they got for him….