Mathieu Flamini to Crystal Palace: Latest Transfer Details, Reaction and More

Mathieu Flamini signed for Crystal Palace on Thursday.

News of the veteran midfielder’s move was relayed by the club's Twitter account, and he was pictured with Palace's famous red-and-blue jersey:

The player has agreed a deal until the end of the season and is pleased to be part of the squad. "Crystal Palace is a very ambitious club with great players and I am looking forward to being part of that squad," he told the club's official website. "It is a very interesting challenge for me and I am very excited to be here."

The Frenchman was a free agent, having been released by Arsenal at the end of the previous season. Flamini enjoyed two spells with the Gunners and has long been considered a reliable and committed presence at the base of midfield.

The 32-year-old joined Arsenal from Olympique de Marseille in 2004, and after four successful years in north London, he moved to AC Milan. Five years later, he was back at the Emirates Stadium. While he wasn’t the most glamorous acquisition, Flamini was deemed a dependable option by manager Arsene Wenger.

Indeed, Jack Pitt-Brooke of The Independent is already excited to see what Flamini can offer alongside his compatriot Yohan Cabaye:

Palace boss Alan Pardew revealed he’s a long-term admirer of the player. "I like the fact whenever he played, he played in the big, big games at Arsenal when they needed someone to kind of lead the team over the line and get big results," he said, per James Dale of Sky Sports.

Having landed his man, the Eagles boss will be delighted. Prior to Flamini's acquisition, Palace would have already been content with the business they did in the summer, having signed Christian Benteke, Loic Remy, Andros Townsend and Steve Mandanda during the transfer window.

Bryn Lennon/Getty Images

Flamini will be the icing on the cake for a lot of Palace supporters. Indeed, he looks set to be a direct replacement for former midfielder Mile Jedinak, with the experienced holding player joining Aston Villa in August.

The former Arsenal man will bring similar qualities in the middle of the park, as he’s able to break up play, win back possession and distribute smartly.

Given Flamini is acquainted with the Premier League, it’s a risk-free deal for Palace and another savvy piece of business the club’s hierarchy should be pleased with.