Tottenham 19-year-old midfielder Archie Gray offered a warm greeting to Brennan Johnson (24), who moved to Crystal Palace.
On the 3rd (KST), he wrote on his social media account, "I'll really miss you. Thank you sincerely for everything you've done for me," and added, "Johnson has always looked after me from day one until now. A truly great player, a wonderful person," accompanied by a heart emoji.
Gray moved to Tottenham from Leeds United on July 2, 2024, and shared a dressing room with Johnson for about one and a half seasons.
Palace announced earlier that day through the club's official channels, "Wales international forward Johnson has officially joined," saying the transfer fee was a club-record £35 million (about 68 billion won). The contract length is four years and six months.
Johnson will wear the number 11 shirt.
According to Palace's announcement, Johnson could make his debut on the 5th in the match against Newcastle United at St. James' Park.
Johnson had a productive time at Tottenham. Last season he scored 18 goals and provided seven assists in official matches. He was the team's top scorer. In the UEFA Europa League final, he scored the winning goal against Manchester United.
A native of Nottingham, Johnson is a wide player with pace and a knack for scoring. During his time at Nottingham Forest he scored 19 goals in the 2021-2022 season and was named the Championship's young player of the year. He was a key figure in the team's promotion that season. He also scored double-digit goals in his Premier League debut season.
He also has extensive international experience. Johnson has played 42 times for the Wales senior national team, scoring seven goals. He also appeared at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Steve Parish, chairman of Palace, said, "We are very pleased that Johnson has joined," adding, "He is a talented young player with excellent recent form in domestic, European and international competitions," and said he was pleased that "his arrival strengthens our attacking options."
Oliver Glasner, Palace manager, also expressed satisfaction. He said, "We completed the signing of Johnson as soon as the transfer window opened. I want to give credit to the club for the quick decision. He will offer varied attacking options through his speed and scoring ability. He will be a great addition to the squad," he said.
Johnson said, "I'm really excited. I'm happy. Palace is a club I have always respected," adding, "Now is a good time to come here. I'm pleased to be joining the journey."
Meanwhile, Gray drew attention last August when he left a warm message when Son Heung-min moved to LAFC in Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
At the time he said, "Thank you for helping me in every way since coming to Tottenham. Being able to run on the pitch and train with you every day was a moment when a dream came true," adding, "It's amazing how great a footballer you are, but even more impressive is that you're an even more wonderful person. You always look after all teammates and staff, lead by example every day, and I am truly grateful for everything. Everyone will miss you," he said sincerely.
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