Glenn Murray has brought to an end a successful four-year spell at Crystal Palace by completing a move to Bournemouth in a deal worth an initial £3m. The forward, who turns 32 later this month, has signed a three-year contract.
Murray, who had moved to Selhurst Park under freedom of contract after leaving Brighton in 2011, played an integral part in Palace’s promotion to the Premier League. He scored 31 goals in the 2012-13 season, the most productive spell of a nomadic career that has included playing in the United States and the lower leagues, before rupturing his cruciate knee ligaments in the first leg of the play-off semi-final against his former club.
Murray endured a lengthy rehabilitation and had to wait for his chance to impress in the top flight but, after a prolific spell on loan at Reading at the start of last season, returned to Palace and scored seven times in 15 league appearances during the run-in last term.
Palace moved to secure Sunderland’s Connor Wickham for £9m this summer and, with Patrick Bamford and Marouane Chamakh also competing for the lone striker role, Murray has opted to pursue first-team football elsewhere. He should combine well with Callum Wilson, the Premier League’s joint top-scorer.
“Palace are still progressing but for me personally I’m ready for a new challenge – and it was down here,” Murray said. “I think the interest from Bournemouth has been around a while. Obviously I’ve come across the club quite a lot in my career. When a club shows interest and a manager wants you it is always nice. It is a bit last minute but it is nice to finally be here.”
It is understood there is another £1m payment due if Bournemouth retain their status in the elite for a further year. Murray’s arrival provides a boost because Max Gradel, the Ivory Coast forward signed from St Etienne over the summer, likely to be absent for up to six months after suffering a serious knee injury in Saturday’s draw with Leicester.
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