CRYSTAL PALACE confirmed the deadline day signing of Jorgen Strand Larsen for a club-record £48million – despite Jean-Philippe Mateta’s exit collapsing.
The Eagles broke their previous record to sign £35m on Brennan Johnson earlier in the window.
But they went above and beyond to snap up the striker from Wolves.
The Selhurst Park club announced the news just as the window closed at 7pm.
Strand Larsen, 25, put pen to paper on a contract until 2030 and will wear the No22, previously worn by Odsonne Edouard.
The 24-cap Norwegian said: “I’m really excited to come to Crystal Palace.
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“It’s been something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now.
“I’m here to bring energy and goals, and to try to do my best for the club.”
Strand Larsen spent 18 months at Molineux, scoring 14 goals in 35 Prem games during his loan from Spanish side Celta last season.
However, since making the switch permanent in the summer, the big forward managed just one goal in 23 league appearances.
That was a penalty in a 3-2 home defeat to Burnley, meaning he is yet to find the net from open play in more than 23 hours of football.
Palace paid a £43m up front with a further £5m in add-ons – six months after Wolves turned down a reported £55m from Newcastle for the 6ft 4ins forward.
Strand Larsen was expected to be a direct replacement for Mateta.
France international Mateta informed Palace in January that he wanted to leave the club – feeling promises have been broken over recruitment and his contract.
The 28-year-old headed to Italy for a medical with AC Milan ahead of a £30m transfer.
However, the San Siro giants pulled out of the deal when a knee injury flagged up during the checks.
Juventus were in talks to swoop for Mateta but a deal was unlikely to get done.
The Strand Larsen news came just after news broke that Palace had agreed a £20m deal for Dwight McNeil from Everton.
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