Crystal Palace Football Club are delighted to announce the signing of in-demand striker Dwight Gayle.





The 22-year-old has signed a four-year contract with the Eagles, after the club agreed an undisclosed fee with League One side Peterborough United.





Gayle had been linked to a number of Premier League clubs after Peterborough were relegated from the Championship on the final day of last season, following a 3-2 defeat at Selhurst Park. But the pacey frontman has decided his future lies in SE25, after putting pen to paper on the deal.





Walthamstow-born Gayle started his career in the youth set-up at Arsenal, but went on to hit a remarkable 57 goals in one season with Essex Senior League club Stanstead.





He quickly moved on to League Two side Dagenham and Redbridge as a trainee back in July 2011, but only turned professional a year ago after hitting 29 goals during a loan spell at Conference North outfit Bishop’s Stortford.





After returning to Dagenham and netting seven times in 18 appearances, the Posh moved to sign Gayle on loan in November 2012. He made an instant impact in the Championship, scoring his first goal in the 4-1 defeat at Blackpool the following month.





That was one of Gayle’s five goals in six games during a successful loan spell – form that prompted Peterborough to shell out an initial £500,000 for his services in January 2013. Gayle finished the season with 13 goals for Darren Ferguson’s men, including an impressive hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers in March.





He was part of the Posh side that narrowly lost to Palace on the final day of last season and was only denied a goal by a smart Julian Speroni save. Now Gayle is looking forward to lining up alongside the Argentine and the rest of his new teammates in the Premier League.





Speaking exclusively to Palace Player after completing his medical last Friday, Gayle said of the move: “I’m ecstatic really. I just want to get pre-season started now.





“The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I’ve come from is a big achievement really.





“I’m just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well.”





Gayle added that he is looking forward to working under his new boss, Ian Holloway, saying of the Palace gaffer: “He’s a good manager and for him to point out my talent and my ability is a good feeling. I just hope I can repay him with goals for the club and help them stay in the Premier League.





“He’s built a very attacking side, which is what you need really. You need to score goals to win games to keep you up and to win trophies, which he proved last season.”





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