August 27, (THEWILL) – Manchester United goalkeeper Dean Henderson is close to finalising a move to Crystal Palace after the two clubs agreed on a £20 million transfer fee.
The 26-year-old is scheduled to undergo a medical with the Eagles ahead of putting pen to paper on a long-term contract. Henderson has found playing time hard to come by at Old Trafford, stuck behind David de Gea in the pecking order. After a loan spell at Nottingham Forest last season, Henderson was eager to secure regular starts and pushed for an exit this summer.
With United signing Andre Onana as their new number one, the path was clear for Henderson’s departure. Crystal Palace moved quickly to bring in the experienced Henderson to strengthen their goalkeeping ranks. While he will provide competition for Sam Johnstone, Henderson is expected to be guaranteed the starting spot after receiving assurances from Palace about his role.
The deal is a significant investment for the London club as they look to build on last season’s mid-table finish. For United, the transfer continues the overhaul of their squad following a disappointing 2022/2023 campaign. The substantial fee recouped for Henderson, who was under contract until 2025, can be reinvested as new manager Erik ten Hag shapes the team to his liking.
The Red Devils will move forward with Onana firmly established as their first choice in goal. Henderson will be eager to hit the ground running with Palace and re-establish himself as one of the EPL’s top goalkeepers. If he can find his best form, it would be a major boost to the Eagles’ hopes of qualifying for Europe. After limited opportunities at United, Henderson now has the chance to be the main man between the sticks at Selhurst Park.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
