Crystal Palace have signed the Mali international winger Bakary Sako on a three-year deal.
The 27-year-old free agent had been in talks with West Bromwich Albion, having left Wolverhampton Wanderers at the end of last season, but instead opted to become part of Alan Pardew’s reshaped squad.
Sako, who was also linked with Leicester City, scored 38 goals in 124 games for Wolves after moving from St Etienne in 2012. He told Palace’s website: “I talked to some clubs but when I met Alan I felt a good feeling between him and me and that’s why I chose Palace.
BREAKING: #CPFC are delighted to announce the free transfer signing of Bakary Sako on a three-year deal. pic.twitter.com/GJV7ahiOKY
— Crystal Palace FC (@CPFC) August 5, 2015
“He plays attacking, attractive football so it should be good to play here and score some goals, that’s why I came to join him. I’ve been doing my own pre-season training because Wolves gave me a programme before I left, and my cousin has a small academy so we trained together to keep my fitness levels up.
“I think I’m fit now but it’s in the manager’s hands to pick me so we’ll see how my fitness is. I want to play lots of games, score some goals and get some assists and enjoy myself. I’m confident about stepping up to the Premier League so we’ll see how it goes.”
Sako has 14 caps for Mali, also known as the Eagles, and represented them in the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations.
