English Football
Patrick van Aanholt joins Crystal Palace for £14m
Patrick van Aanholt unveiled at Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace have signed Sunderland defender Patrick van Aanholt in a transfer that could rise to £14m.
Netherlands international Van Aanholt, 26, made 95 appearances for Sunderland after joining them in a £1.5m move from Chelsea in the summer of 2014.
Sunderland are bottom of the Premier League, with Crystal Palace in 18th.
In a statement issued by Palace they have completed their second capture of the January transfer window.
The left-sided player has signed a four and a half year contract at Selhurst Park and links up with Sam Allardyce for the second time in his career, having played under the Eagles boss last season at The Stadium of Light.
Van Aanholt, 26, started his career at Chelsea after playing for PSV Eindhoven’s youth side. He featured on loan for Coventry City and Newcastle United before making the first of eight appearances for the Blues, and also spending time on loan at Leicester City, Wigan Athletic and Vitesse Arnhem.
He joined Sunderland permanently in July 2013 and the Dutchman quickly became a regular playing 88 times on Wearside, scoring seven times including four last term as he helped Sunderland side beat the drop.
Allardyce said: “I am delighted that Patrick has joined us. We had great success together at Sunderland where he was instrumental in keeping them in the Premier League last season.
“He will add pace and energy to our team, has strong defensive qualities and has the added ability to score and create goals”.
