Crystal Palace signed French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on loan from Mainz. (Photo | AFP) 
Football

Jean-Philippe Mateta to join Wilfried Zaha at Crystal Palace attacking ranks

Mateta has scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for Mainz in the Bundesliga and German Cup this season.

Associated Press

LONDON: Crystal Palace signed French striker Jean-Philippe Mateta on an 18-month loan from relegation-threatened German club Mainz on Thursday.

Mateta has scored 10 goals in 17 appearances for Mainz in the Bundesliga and German Cup this season.

Mainz said the loan deal runs through the end of the 2021-22 season and includes an option to buy.

Mateta's arrival adds depth to a Palace attack which has relied heavily on winger Wilfried Zaha's eight Premier League goals this season.

Palace's center forwards have struggled for goals, with three for Christian Benteke, one for Jordan Ayew and none for Michy Batshuayi.

Mainz, which is in 17th place in the 18-team standings and faces relegation after 12 years in the first division, will be without its top scorer for the second half of the Bundesliga season.

No other player in the squad has scored more than three goals this season.

Several feared dead after explosion rips through ski resort town in Switzerland

Zohran Mamdani sworn in as New York City mayor at historic subway station

Cities around the world welcome 2026 with thunderous fireworks and heightened security

Lokpal scraps controversial tender to buy seven BMW cars

Census, SIR & empirical statistical portrait of India

SCROLL FOR NEXT