Hit or miss? Ranking each of Crystal Palace’s signings this season

In a period packed with transfers from start to finish, every club around the world will be looking to bolster their squad ahead of the new season.

But identifying the talent to do that with is the difficult part.

Over the last decade, clubs like Brentford and Brighton have seen particular success from purchasing cheaper, unknown talents, and developing them into some of the best players in the country.

With the financial superiority of some of the top clubs around the world, Crystal Palace will be one of the teams looking to buy smarter, and they’ve taken that approach in recent years, with the signings of Eberechi Eze and Michael Olise, for example.

So with that in mind, how have the Eagles signings from over the last season got on?

Cheick Doucoure – verdict: Hit

Since signing for Palace in the summer of 2022, the Malian has made himself a staple of the Palace midfield.

Doucoure walked straight into Palace’s team for the season opener against Arsenal, and he’s pretty much stayed there ever since.

The midfielder has started 31 games for Palace this season, which is joint for the most starts in the Palace team with Tyrick Mitchell.

Recording a consistent place in the starting 11 is great for Dourocure, especially in his first season. When signing a new player, one indication of their success is their consistency in the starting line-up, and Doucoure could not have done much better in that regard.

According to FotMob.com, on average, Doucoure is the third highest rated performer for Palace all season, behind Eze and Olise.

For Doucoure’s first season in south London, he can consider it a success. The 23-year-old arrived from Lens for just over 22 million euros in July last year, and will only be looking to improve on his debut season next term.

Albert Sambi Lokonga – verdict: Miss

The Belgian struggled was signed to give Arsenal strength in depth in their midfield, but Lokonga has struggled in his first 18 months at the club.

Unfortunately for Lokonga, his time at Palace has been similar to his time in north London.

Although it’s clear Lokonga has quality, the young midfielder failed to break into the Palace starting 11 consistently since his loan signing in January.

Since Hodgson took over from Vieira, Lokonga has made two appearances in the league out of seven possible games. The Belgian appeared in Palace’s win at Southampton, but his only start was in one of Palace’s two losses since Hodgson’s appointment.

Over his six month spell at Selhurst Park, Lokonga has made nine appearances, with six of them being in the starting line-up. Over those six games, Palace have won zero, drawing two and losing four.

Sam Johnstone – verdict: Hit

After West Brom failed to gain promotion back to the Premier League last season, Palace won the race to sign the Baggies’ shot stopper.

Over the season, Johnstone has provided great cover for Guaita, when the Eagles first choice keeper was out with an injury.

Johnstone has only made six appearances in the league this year, and they’ve all come in Palace’s last six games.

At the moment, Johnstone seems to have taken Guaita’s number one spot, which is great for the competition of places heading into next season.

Johnstone has kept two clean sheets across his time in goal for Palace, and will probably be hoping to get a few more next season.

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Chris Richards – verdict: Hit

The young American centre back was brought in from Bayern Munich last season for 12 million euros.

Richards has racked up nine appearances in the Premier League this season, with five of them coming off the bench.

The 23-year-old hasn’t had many opportunities for Palace this term, but he has filled in when needed, making him a successful signing (so far).

Richards was clearly brought in for the future. At the very most he would’ve been expected to provide cover for Guehi, Anderson and even Ward if they get injured, which he has done.

He will have an opportunity to push for a starting position next season. The Eagles are said to be in the market for a right back, which could be a position Richards could play in next year. With the rumours regarding Guehi’s departure from the club, there may even be a vacant centre-back position, and then the American will have a great chance to prove his worth.

Naouirou Ahamada – verdict: Needs more time

The 21-year-old has barely had an opportunity for Palace this season, totalling just 87 minutes of football from his seven appearances off the bench this year.

The French midfielder moved to Palace from VfB Stuttgart last summer, but hasn’t made an impact as of yet.

For his 12 million euro transfer fee, perhaps you could expect a bit more from Ahamada, but like Richards, he has clearly been brought in for the future, and perhaps he’ll get more of an opportunity to make an impact at Palace when Lokonga returns to Arsenal at the end of the season, and a position in the rotation opens up for the youngster.