June 8 2018

Vicente Guaita

Crystal Palace have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Vicente Guaita on a free transfer.

The Spaniard will officially join the Eagles when his contract with Getafe expires at the end of the month to put to bed rumours he wasn't going to join.

Palace had agreed a pre-contract agreement with the 31-year-old but newspaper reports on the Continent suggested it was invalid with Fiorentina and Atletico Madrid ready to prise him away.

Palace chairman Steve Parish told the club website: "We are delighted to sign one of La Liga'a best goalkeepers and pleased that we beat off the competition for his signature. We very much look forward to Vicente joining in pre-season training and helping us push on in the Premier League."

Guaita, who becomes Roy Hodgson's first summer acquisition and pens a three-year deal, started his career with Valencia in 2008. He had a loan stint with Recreativo in 2009/10 and returned to his parent club at the end of the season where he played 114 games overall.

The 6ft 3in stopper then moved on to second-tier side Getafe in the summer of 2014 and helped them win promotion to La Liga last year and subsequent eighth-place finish.