Crystal Palace sign Cheikhou Kouyate from West Ham for £9.5m as Roy Hodgson eyes further additions

Kouyate is Palace’s second signing of the summer, having brought in the Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on a free transfer, and Roy Hodgson is keen to push on in the market

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Cheikhou Kouyate from West Ham for £9.5m on a four-year contract as the club begins to push through several deals before the transfer window closes.

Kouyate is Palace’s second signing of the summer, having brought in the Spanish goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on a free transfer. Roy Hodgson is keen to push on in the market with the talented Germany international Max Meyer on the verge of moving to Selhurst Park, also on a free, and talks ongoing for Swansea City’s Jordan Ayew.

The Senegal captain made more than 150 appearances for West Ham over four years, having moved to east London from Anderlecht.

“I’m so happy,” Kouyate said. “It’s been a long day but now everything is good and I’m very excited to start with my new teammates. This is the right time to move because I needed a new challenge. I have good memories of West Ham but I need to come here and give my best because I like the Crystal Palace project.

“I spoke to the manager and I know he’ll be a good manager. I also spoke to [Palace left-back and fellow Senegal international] Pape Souare yesterday and he told me I had to come and now I’m here and I’m very happy.”