Crystal Palace have announced the signing of Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa with an option to make the move permanent at the end of the season.
Guessand joined Villa from Ligue 1 side Nice at the start of the campaign, but has struggled for minutes, making just 13 league appearances for Unai Emery’s side.
Emery, the Villa manager, said on Thursday, after his side’s 3-2 Europa League victory over Red Bull Salzburg, that he did not want to lose Guessand but admitted the club had secured a “good deal” for the forward.
Palace, meanwhile, have been in the market for a striker due to uncertainty around the future of Jean-Philippe Mateta, who has expressed his desire to leave the club.
The Frenchman was the subject of a £35million bid from Nottingham Forest, while AC Milan are reported to hold a strong interest in the forward, who will not be in Palace’s matchday squad for their game at the City Ground on Sunday.
Guessand will not be eligible to play for Palace against Forest this weekend.
Guessand is Palace.
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) January 30, 2026
We are delighted to announce the signing of Evann Guessand on loan from Aston Villa ❤️💙
Villa themselves were interested in landing Mateta earlier in the window, but instead moved for Besiktas forward Tammy Abraham.
Guessand becomes the Eagles’ second signing of the January transfer window after they broke their club-record transfer fee to bring in Brennan Johnson from Tottenham.
On Guessand’s arrival, Palace chairman Steve Parish said: “Evann is an exciting talent who we are confident will flourish on the South London stage.
“His arrival further bolsters our forward options, as we look to push on in the Premier League and in Europe in the second half of the season.”
Guessand added: "I'm really, really excited. I was waiting for this moment for a very long time, and I'm excited to play with my new teammates.
"I think, with the quality we have, we can achieve something."
