Crystal Palace FC's first-ever major European adventure is underway, as we battle to win the UEFA Conference League. Find out how you can join us on our journey.

European Tour

## Our Senegalese Sarr

> Ismaïla Sarr became the club’s third signing of the 2024/25 summer transfer window after joining on a five-year deal from Olympique de Marseille.

The 26-year-old attacker possesses plenty of experience of English football, having spent four years at Watford – recording 34 goals and 22 assists in 131 games – prior to joining Marseille, whom he helped reach the semi-finals of the UEFA Europa League last season.

Sarr's career began in French football with Metz, before moving to Rennes and leading the club into Europe, as well as winning their first Coupe de France in almost half a century.

At international level, he has been a mainstay of the Senegal national side, earning 64 caps, scoring 13 goals and winning the Africa Cup of Nations in 2021.

His career has also been defined by his eye for the spectacular, having won Goal of the Season awards in both the Football League and the Europa League.

Sarr was ever-present in every Premier League matchday squad in his first season at the club, playing in all 38 games, while also featuring in a further nine cup games. He scored 11 goals across all competitions, with eight additional assists - including a stunning effort against rivals Brighton & Hove Albion and a brace against Aston Villa in the FA Cup semi-final.

2022/23, Watford (v West Bromwich Albion)

EFL Goal of the Season

Watford, 2020/21

Player of the Season

Players' Player of the Season

2018/19, Rennes (v Jablonec)

UEFA Europa League Goal of the Season

December 2024

Crystal Palace Player of the Month

Sarr

Instagram

Appearances

Goals

Ismaïla Sarr Returns From AFCON

Pre-match Press Conference | RC Strasbourg (A)

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-1 AZ Alkmaar | Palace TV+

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v AZ Alkmaar | Palace TV+

Sarr wins October's Goal of the Month

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 3-1 AZ Alkmaar

Goal of the month contenders | October 2025

Extended Highlights: Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Match Action: Liverpool 0-3 Crystal Palace

Extended Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool | Palace TV+

The Full 90: Crystal Palace v Liverpool | Palace TV+

Match Highlights: Crystal Palace 2-1 Liverpool

Goal of the month contenders | August 2025

Extended Highlights: Aston Villa 0-3 Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

The Full 90: Aston Villa v Crystal Palace | Palace TV+

Goals Inside Box

Goals Outside Box

Right Foot

Left Foot

Shots

Shots on target

Hit woodwork

Penalties taken

Penalties scored

Touches

Touches in opposition box

Aerial duels

Aerial duels won

Interceptions

Blocks

Recoveries

Tackles won

Duels won

Clearances

Minutes

Attempted passes

Successful passes

Chances created

Crosses

Yellow cards

Red cards

Fouls won

Fouls Conceded

Season

Games

Supporters can back the young Eagles in person at the Lamex Stadium, or watch every kick **LIVE on Palace TV+**.

### Watch LIVE on Palace TV+

The match will be broadcast live on **Palace TV+** on Thursday, 5th February.

- **Kick-off:** 19:00 GMT
- **Coverage begins:** 18:45 GMT

Supporters can subscribe to Palace TV+ and select the package that’s right for them to watch the match live.

**Reaction and** **highlights will also be available on Palace TV+** after full-time.

SUBSCRIBE TO PALACE TV+

### Be There in Person

Get behind the next generation under the lights at the Lamex Stadium.

Tickets for this fixture are sold and administered by **Stevenage FC**.

**Ticket prices:**

- Adults: £10
- Under-18s: £5
- Under-12s: £2 (must be accompanied by an adult)

Supporters should note that **only the West Stand will be open**, with **no segregation** between home and away fans.

**Ticket delivery options:**

- **E-ticket:** QR code sent by email (printable or scannable on a mobile device)
- **E-ticket SMS:** Ticket link sent directly to your phone (10p charge)
- **Postal delivery:** Tickets sent via Royal Mail

BUY STEVENAGE TICKETS HERE

### Can’t Watch Live?

Stay right up to date throughout the evening:

- **Live commentary** on our[ Academy X (Twitter) channel](https://x.com/CPFCAcademy)
- **Full match report** on [cpfc.co.uk](http://cpfc.co.uk) shortly after the final whistle
- **Reaction and highlights** later on [Palace TV+](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/palace-tv/)

### Form Guide

It has been an encouraging period for Javier Alonso’s Under-18s, who head into Thursday’s tie on the back of two emphatic victories across cup and league competition.

The Eagles recorded a 4-0 win over Newcastle United, with braces from Benji Casey and David Angibeaud, before following that up with a 5-0 victory against Birmingham City. Goals in that match came from braces by David Angibeaud and Donte Martin, with Sean Somade also on the scoresheet.

Stevenage have already made club history in this season’s FA Youth Cup, reaching the fifth round for the first time. Boro secured a 3-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers, with Lenny Brown opening the scoring. After Bolton equalised, goals from Riley England and Faith Mustafa sealed a memorable night for the Hertfordshire side.

A Category Three academy, Stevenage compete in the Youth Alliance League, featuring U18 sides from Category Three and Four academies across the EFL and Premier League, alongside selected National League clubs. Boro currently sit second in the table on 42 points, two behind leaders AFC Wimbledon, and have lost just once all season.

### Match Details

**Stevenage Under-18s v Crystal Palace Under-18s**

- Thursday, 5th February
- 19:00 GMT
- FA Youth Cup – Fifth Round
- Lamex Stadium
- Watch LIVE on [Palace TV+](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/palace-tv/)
- Available via [Stevenage FC](https://www.venuetoolbox.com/stevenagefc/ASP/bookTickets.asp?dept=Spectators)

Crystal Palace Under-18s will be aiming to overcome Category Three side Stevenage on Thursday evening (5th February, 19:00 GMT) as we look to book a place in the FA Youth Cup quarter-finals for the first time in over 15 years.

How to watch Palace in FA Youth Cup action against Stevenage TONIGHT (19:00 GMT)

Stevenage U18 v Crystal Palace U18 (2026-02-05)

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Brennan Johnson, Evann Guessand and, last but certainly not least, Jørgen Strand Larsen all signed up to give a significant boost to Oliver Glasner’s squad.

All three are attackers, yet all three also bring different qualities to the Eagles’ ahead of what promises to be a busy second-half of the season.

Let’s take a dive into some of the key features of their play…

#### **Brennan Johnson**

Palace’s first signing of the window has already got his first month of action under his belt.

And although it’s early days in the start of his South London journey, Johnson has brought direction and energy to the team.

In his last game against former club Nottingham Forest no player made more crosses in the 90 minutes than Johnson.

Although he is yet to score in red and blue, the winger has developed a reputation for finding the net in recent seasons – developing one finish in particular as something of a trademark.

During his time at Tottenham, Johnson scored seven of his first 14 club goals with a similar finish, converting a low cross from the left with the Wales international arriving at/from the back post for a one-touch finish.

First interview | Brennan Johnson

It’s the type of finish that requires expert timing and understanding with teammates, something that will only grow in the coming months.

But his goalscoring is not limited to that type of finish.

A classic example is perhaps his most famous goal so far, the winner in last season’s Europa League final, when Johnson occupied a classic centre-forward position – before using clever movement to out manoeuvre defenders at the front post.

He also brings a versatility. Although regularly deployed wide on the right wing, the right-footed forward is capable of playing anywhere across the front line.

His first two starts in the 2025/26 season for Spurs actually came on the left of a front three, with Johnson scoring in both games.

At international level, he has previously been deployed centrally for Wales, with three of his seven goals to date at senior level coming when he played that position.

#### **Evann Guessand**

Like fellow signings Johnson and Strand Larsen, Guessand comes ready made for the Premier League having spent the last six months at Aston Villa.

Physically imposing with decent ability in the air, on first glance you might expect Guessand to flourish as a central striker. But although the Ivory Coast international has played there throughout his professional career – and in-behind the striker – playing wide on the right is his most common position over the last two seasons.

Guessand has featured on the right wing 52 times in his club career to date, with 68 appearances coming as a central forward. Yet his goal and assist breakdown is remarkably similar in either position.

Guessand has scored 14 goals each from both positions, while he has two more assists (nine) as a centre forward than as a right winger (seven).

Playing slightly deeper also allows him to utilise one of his key traits, running at defenders, a common theme of his game.

Guessand made 49 successful dribbles in 30 starts in Ligue 1 last season, up from 24 the previous year.

The 24-year-old is also efficient in the final third, shown by the fact he outperformed both his xG (expected goals) and xA (expected assists) for Nice last season.

Guessand scored 12 league goals, from an xG of 9.18 and created another eight, from an xS of just 5.29.

#### **Jørgen Strand Larsen**

A tall, powerful centre-forward, Strand Larsen has efficiently shown throughout his senior career so far that he knows where the goal is.

As he revealed in his first Palace TV interview, the Norwegian’s favourite type of goal, “is a tap-in.” But he’s also capable of the spectacular – check out his sensational bicycle kick for FC Groningen against SC Cambuur if you’re in doubt.

<blockquote class="tiktok-embed" cite="https://www.tiktok.com/@espnnl/video/6996927358355770630" data-video-id="6996927358355770630" style="max-width: 605px;min-width: 325px;" > <section> <a target="_blank" title="@espnnl" href="https://www.tiktok.com/@espnnl?refer=embed">@espnnl</a> ✨🚲 AMAZING GOAL 😱  <a title="bicyclekickgoal" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bicyclekickgoal?refer=embed">#bicyclekickgoal</a> <a title="bicyclekick" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/bicyclekick?refer=embed">#bicyclekick</a> <a title="wow" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/wow?refer=embed">#wow</a> <a title="eredivisie" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/eredivisie?refer=embed">#eredivisie</a> <a title="football" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/football?refer=embed">#football</a> <a title="fy" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fy?refer=embed">#fy</a> <a title="fyp" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/fyp?refer=embed">#fyp</a> <a title="viral" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/viral?refer=embed">#viral</a> <a title="footballvideo" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/footballvideo?refer=embed">#footballvideo</a> <a title="strandlarsen" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/strandlarsen?refer=embed">#strandlarsen</a> <a title="omg" target="_blank" href="https://www.tiktok.com/tag/omg?refer=embed">#omg</a> <a target="_blank" title="♬ origineel geluid - ESPN NL" href="https://www.tiktok.com/music/origineel-geluid-6996926884776921861?refer=embed">♬ origineel geluid - ESPN NL</a> </section> </blockquote> <script async src="https://www.tiktok.com/embed.js"></script>

Breaking down his finishes from last season, he scored eight with his right foot, three with his left, and three headers – with three of those right-footed efforts coming directly after counter attacks.

Since his arrival in England at the start of 2024/25, Strand Larsen is another to have outperformed his xG – 15 goals to date from an xG of 13.32.

Rather than play as a poacher, purely waiting on the last line for an opportunity in-behind the defence, Strand Larsen likes to cover ground and do his share of defensive work.

Last season, he made 42 defensive recoveries and 10 final third possession turnovers. His heat maps regularly show a player willing to get through plenty of work to win the ball back.

And finally – as you might expect – the 6’4 forward is a major threat in the air. Over the last two seasons he has won 110 aerial duels in 57 starts, with only two non-defenders in the Premier League having won more during that time.

A player capable of scoring all types of goals combined with energy and aerial power – Strand Larsen will, like Johnson and Guessand, brings serious pedigree to the Eagles’ attack.

***Check out our first interviews with all the January signings below;***

- [*Brennan Johnson*](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/video/johnsons-first-palace-tv-interview-i-know-this-team-can-be-successful/) 
- [*Evann Guessand*](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/video/evann-guessands-first-palace-tv-interview/)
- [*Jørgen Strand Larsen*](https://www.cpfc.co.uk/news/video/strand-larsen-first-palace-tv-interview/)

Crystal Palace were active in the January transfer window with a trio of new arrivals in South London.

The Breakdown: What Palace’s new January signings will bring

**Watch six of the best from across our Men's, Women's and Academy sides, before voting directly in the poll below!**

**Comprising the six** are a remarkable debut, match-winning free-kick from **Hayley Ladd**; a crisp finish from range for our Under-18s from **Chuks Okoli**; and a clever, improvised finish by **Yéremy Pino**.

There's also an emphatic Youth Cup finish by **Benji Casey**; a brilliantly worked team goal, finished off by **Molly-Mae Sharpe**; and some wonderful footwork inside the box by our Under-21s forward **Zach Marsh.**

**Vote for your favourite above for the January LOADED Goal of the Month title, now!**

It's now time to choose your Crystal Palace LOADED January Goal of the Month!

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How to watch Palace in FA Youth Cup action against Stevenage TONIGHT (19:00 GMT)

The Breakdown: What Palace’s new January signings will bring

Vote now for your LOADED January Goal of the Month!

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How to watch Palace in FA Youth Cup action against Stevenage TONIGHT (19:00 GMT)

The Breakdown: What Palace’s new January signings will bring

Vote now for your LOADED January Goal of the Month!

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