Crystal Palace confirm loan deal for Jean-Philippe Mateta – and have an option to buy Mainz forward

BY SAM SMITH

Crystal Palace have signed striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on an 18-month loan from German Bundesliga club FSV Mainz 05.

The deal is subject to international clearance and the Eagles have an option to buy – believed to be when he plays 15 matches.

The 23-year-old has scored 10 goals in 17 matches this season. That includes two hat-tricks, one in the German Cup and another in a 3-1 league win over Freiburg in November.

Mateta also netted 14 goals in the 2018/19 campaign. But he was hampered by injuries the following term, scoring just three times in 18 appearances.

The French-born attacker appeared to have fallen out of favour since the appointment of Bo Svensson earlier this month. He has featured in just 13 minutes of Mainz’s games since Svensson’s appointment on January 4.

Mateta has three goals in nine caps for France U21s, including scoring against Spain at the 2019 European U21 Championship – a tournament in which he also featured in a 2-1 win against England.

He started his career at Chateauroux before earning a move to Lyon. There was also a loan at Le Havre.

Mateta has said that it is a dream to move to the Premier League. He told Palace TV: “I’m very happy to come to Crystal Palace and I look forward to training.

“Playing in the Premier League was my dream when I was a child. Now I can play, I will show the fans of Crystal Palace what I can do.”

Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “We have followed Jean-Philippe’s development with keen interest for some time, and I’m so pleased that we have been able to bring him to South London.

“He is a player that is full of potential with a proven goal-scoring record, and his signing reiterates our commitment to ensuring we have a well-balanced squad in terms of youth and experience for the seasons ahead.”

Image: please credit PPAUK / Dan Weir for CPFC