September 1 2015

Glenn Murray

Crystal Palace striker Glenn Murray has joined AFC Bournemouth in a £3million-plus deal.

The 31-year-old Palace hero was deemed surplus to requirements following Connor Wickham's £7m summer arrival from Sunderland.

Palace can now recoup some cash from the Murray transfer with Patrick Bamford and Marouane Chamakh also competing for the lone forward position.

Murray, who has signed a three-year contract with the division's new boys, ends a memorable four-year stay with the Eagles and most fans will be sorry to see him leave.

"Palace are still progressing but for me personally I’m ready for a new challenge – and it was down here," said Murray.

"I think the interest [from Bournemouth] has been around a while. Obviously I’ve come across the club quite a lot in my career. When a club shows interest and a manager obviously wants you it is always nice. It is a bit last-minute but it is nice to finally be here."

Murray was bizarrely sent out to Reading on loan by Neil Warnock for the first half of last season where he scored eight goals in 18 league games.

But he was recalled by new boss Alan Pardew and played a key role in Palace's Premier League survival, scoring seven times in 15 league appearances.

Murray began his career with Carlisle, then Stockport (loan), Rochdale and Brighton before he moved to arch-rivals Palace in 2011 on a free transfer.

His 31 goals over 2012/13 helped Palace reach the play-offs (where he suffered a cruciate ligament injury) and eventual promotion to the Premier League, scoring 47 goals in 126 appearances.

Keep up to date with our 2015/16 Transfer page

pic.twitter.com/vuw4yYq50H

— Glenn Murray (@GM_83) September 1, 2015

VIDEO: @GM_83 tells Cherries Player HD he can’t wait to get started at #afcb: http://t.co/sgRh86Zp8x pic.twitter.com/RdbmDo7edu

— AFC Bournemouth (@afcbournemouth) September 1, 2015