Wilfried Zaha has signed a new five-year contract with Crystal Palace until June 2023 and will reportedly see him earn £130,000 a week.
Zaha, 25, had been linked with a big-money move away from Selhurst Park for much of the summer after winning the club’s Player of the Year award for a third successive season.
However, he stayed and helped Palace to an opening day 2-0 victory at Fulham, scoring his side’s second goal at Craven Cottage.
According to multiple reports, Zaha, who has made 288 appearances for Palace across two spells, becomes the highest-paid player at the club.
He scored a career-high nine league goals and had three assists to help Palace secure an 11th-place finish last season despite failing to win any of their first seven games.
“Wilf grew up a stone’s throw from Selhurst Park from the age of four, and has been with the club since he was 12,” Palace chairman Steve Parish said in a statement.
“This agreement is yet another example of his lifelong commitment to the club, and our commitment to him. This is an amazing day for everyone here at Palace, our supporters and of course Wilf — and is richly deserved.”
Zaha, who had an unhappy season at Manchester United in 2013-14 before returning to Palace, had been linked with potential moves to Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur during the transfer window but no deal materialised.
“I’m very pleased,” Zaha said. “Obviously, I just wanted to get it over and done with, so I can just focus on the season. I’m buzzing that we managed to get it sorted.”
In 2014, Zaha agreed to a season-long loan deal with Crystal Palace.Two days later, in the first match of his loan, he scored a stoppage-time equaliser in a 3–3 draw at Newcastle United. On 2 February 2015, the final day of the winter transfer window, Zaha’s move to Palace was made permanent with the signing of a five-and-a-half-year contract for an undisclosed fee. It also included a buy back clause, believed to be in the region of £3 million, rising to £6 million with add-ons; Manchester United will also receive a percentage of the fee if Palace sell Zaha in the future.
Zaha played regularly for Crystal Palace throughout the season, finishing the season with four goals and two assists as Crystal Palace finished the league in 10th place.
Again, Zaha was a regular for Crystal Palace in this season, making 34 appearances, scoring two goals and recording one assist, while Crystal Palace finished in 15th place. He helped Crystal Palace reach the 2016 FA Cup Final, by playing in every match since the third round entry and scoring two goals along the way. Zaha played the whole 120 minutes in the final, but could not help Palace to a victory, as Manchester United won 2–1. Zaha won the Crystal Palace Player of the Year award for the first time.
On 26 December 2016, Zaha was declined a penalty in the closing minutes against Watford. Some speculated that Zaha had overplayed the foul or taken a dive. After the match Watford’s mascot attempted to rile Zaha up by mimicking a dive in front of him.
On 14 May 2017, Zaha scored the opening goal in the third minute of the Crystal Palace Hull city game that simultaneously mathematically secured Crystal Palace’s top flight status and relegated Hull City to the Championship.
After another outstanding season with The Eagles, Zaha won Crystal Palace’s Player of the Year award for the second year running. On 26 May 2017, Zaha signed a new five-year contract with Crystal Palace.