Crystal Palace have Chelsea midfielder Ruben Loftus-Cheek to thank in helping them to secure the signing of former Blues defender Gary Cahill.
The 33-year-old has signed a two-year deal at Selhurst Park, the place where Loftus-Cheek spent the 2017/18 season, making 25 appearances for the Eagles.
Cahill has revealed that his former Chelsea teammate was full of praise for the club that gave him his first real taste of Premier League football.
"He did [play a part in me signing], he loved it here and I thought it benefited both parties," Cahill said, as reported by the Evening Standard .
"Ruben is a special player, he is going to have a massive future and I thought he was fantastic in the games he played for Palace. Likewise, Palace gave him the opportunity to go and play football in the Premier League so I think it worked.
"He spoke very highly of the place, not just playing for the team and for the fans but also behind the scenes at the training ground and all the people that surround the club."
Cahill signed for Palace after the expiry of his contract at Stamford Bridge at the end of last season. The defender was a regular in Roy Hodgson's England squads when he was in charge of the Three Lions, and working under the Palace manager again was also a factor in his decision.
"I worked with Roy and liked it very much, along with Ray [Lewington] as well," he said.
"They’re fantastic football people and I enjoyed my time with them and that was another thing that factored into the decision [of joining the Eagles] and to work with those two guys again is exciting."
Having now sorted his future, the defender could make his debut for Palace in the opening weekend game against Everton, and he can't wait to get going.
"I'm ready, chomping at the bit," added Cahill. "I've had the biggest summer that I have ever had, for the last nine or ten years I've probably had three weeks off with England, European games and all the competitions you're involved in so I haven't had much of a break.
"I have had that this year and now I'm ready to get back, I'm enthusiastic and ready to go."
