Crystal Palace win race for Leeds and Ipswich target

Crystal Palace have won the race to sign Portsmouth defender Joel Ward as the 22-year-old put pen-to-paper on a four year deal at the Eagles.

Ward had made just under 100 first team appearances for Pompey and had been linked with a move to Leeds and Ipswich.

Eagles assistant manager Lennie Lawrence said: “Joel has been a long term target for Dougie Freedman and this signing is a real coup for the football club.

“We have had severe competition for his signature from other Championship clubs and he has spoken to them as you would expect him to do.

“We are absolutely delighted he has chosen us and we firmly believe that he will be a Premier League player one day and he obviously sees us as his best way forward in terms of his career”.