Jorgen Strand Larsen to Crystal Palace: Wolves striker completes £48m transfer to Selhurst Park as Jean-Philippe Mateta stays
Jorgen Strand Larsen has moved from Premier League bottom club Wolves to Crystal Palace; the deal was not affected by Jean-Philippe Mateta's move from Palace to AC Milan collapsing; the France international will stay at Selhurst Park; a late move for Dwight McNeil could not be completed
Monday 2 February 2026 21:48, UK
Crystal Palace have completed the club-record £48m signing of Wolves striker Jorgen Strand Larsen - however, a late move for Everton's Dwight McNeil collapsed.
Palace have paid a fixed fee of £43m for striker Strand Larsen plus £5m in potential add-ons.
Strand Larsen leaves the Premier League's bottom club Wolves after 18 months. He scored 14 Premier League goals last season as Wolves stayed in the Premier League under Vitor Pereira, but has managed just one this term.
Palace have now broken their transfer record twice in this window following the purchase of Brennan Johnson from Tottenham Hotspur.
The deal for the Norwegian striker has gone through despite Jean-Philippe Mateta's move from Palace to AC Milan falling through on Deadline Day after further medical checks on the France international.
Mateta will remain a Crystal Palace player following the failed move, meaning he will link up with Strand Larsen.
Palace also had a loan bid for Everton winger McNeil accepted before the deadline but, despite submitting a deal sheet to get the move sealed after the window shut, the Eagles ran out of time. The deal had included an obligation to buy McNeil for £20m in the summer if certain conditions were met but Sky Sports News understands the paperwork was not done in time.
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Carra: Strand Larsen starts over Mateta at Palace
Sky Sports' Jamie Carragher:
"I think Strand Larsen is a good player, hence why there's been so much interest in him. People are not buying him based on this season's performances.
"He's playing for a really poor team. And he's not been playing a lot of late he's been on the substitutes bench, a lot. I think the club want to move him on and bring some money in.
"I watched him last season and he looked like not a real top striker but certainly a striker you wouldn't associate with playing at the bottom.
"He can definitely play for a team on the middle of the league. The big thing that stands out from last season is the goals - non-penalty goals. To score 14 goals with no penalties - that takes some going.
"If Strand Larsen comes in, I think Mateta will be on the bench. I don't think Crystal Palace are the type of team that play with two strikers.
"They like those two number 10s, a big part of their system. It would be interesting to see them two going at it.
"They would be a handful. Mateta for how much of a handful he is, his hold up is absolutely fantastic he does miss a lot of big chances."
Mateta has to reintegrate into Palace squad
Sky Sports News' James Savundra:
"Jean-Philippe Mateta was looking for a new challenge in this transfer window. His new challenge will be reintegrating into the Crystal Palace squad.
"He will not be leaving Palace on Deadline Day. AC Milan were deliberating whether to proceed with the deal to sign Mateta. But following medical tests, they decided against it.
"We know he's looking for something new, he wanted to be rewarded for his performances at Palace over the last two seasons where only Erling Haaland has scored more than him.
"But he is set to remain, with contract negotiations still not ongoing between Palace and Mateta. He has 18 months left to go on his contract."
