Free agent and ex-Liverpool right-back Nathaniel Clyne receives his Premier League return thanks to old club Crystal Palace.
The forgotten Nathaniel Clyne will join Roy Hodgson’s Crystal Palace on a short-term contract. The player has been without a club since being released from Liverpool post-pandemic.
He was one of the players at Anfield not to have an extension on his deal (he was in the final month of his contract at the time) despite implications met when contracts ran over the due date and everybody returned to action. Sadly, he had to endure the bad times and miss the good times with Liverpool.
"Crystal Palace have re-signed defender Nathaniel Clyne on a short-term deal following his summer release from Liverpool.The 29-year-old joins on a free transfer, eight years after leaving the club."
The last few years of Clyne’s life as a Reds was something to forget quickly. He was either always injured and/or he must have done something to really upset Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp and the club. He last featured for them back in 2018/19, finding more joy on a loan spell to Bournemouth in the same season.
The Englishman, before hitting his best years as a football saw 30 plus games per season and was regarded as the first-choice fullback at Liverpool. Clyne then saw a massive decline in his game, causing his time on the pitch to become extremely limited under the German.
It was clear to see from an early stage already that the Reds were done with the defender. A sale was always on the cards but nobody was willing to meet their valuation of the player which led to the inevitable… Him running down the clock on his contract.
Thankfully he finds himself back in the Premier League and by the club where it all started for him, Crystal Palace. Before his impressive run with Southampton that afforded him the switch to Merseyside, he enjoyed 137 appearances in all competition while at Selhurst Park.
🦅 Welcome back, @Nathaniel_Clyne! #CPFC | https://t.co/utMcYSDkhb
— Crystal Palace F.C. (@CPFC) October 14, 2020
Nathaniel Clyne on his move:
"I’m a London boy, this is where I grew up. I’m back home and all my family and friends are here. It’s surreal being back, I’m enjoying it, and hopefully I can just crack on and enjoy my football again."
He will be hoping to find his feet again and get back to his best under Roy. Palace have done some decent business this window, buying players that have really added quality while paying the lowest pound possible.