Arsenal’s longest serving player Rob Holding LEAVES club after eight years in £2m transfer to join Premier League rivals

CRYSTAL PALACE have signed Arsenal centre-back Rob Holding for £2million.

The 27-year-old defender accepted a permanent move to Selhurst Park despite receiving a loan offer from Sevilla.

Holding was Arsenal’s longest-serving player after joining the club from Bolton for £2m in 2016 and was a key member of Mikel Arteta’s leadership group last season.

But he was way down the Emirates pecking order and Arteta didn't want to stand in his way of making a fresh start with a new club.

Palace are paying Arsenal a £2m transfer fee after handing Holding a three-year deal.

That sum could rise by a further £2m with add-ons.

Holding said: “I’m excited to get started and get involved.

“Playing against Crystal Palace the number of years I have, seeing the fans and how intimidating Selhurst Park can be, and how loud it can get, I’m looking forward to being on the right side of that this time!”

Manager Roy Hodgson noted: “Rob Holding is a player that interested us for a while.

“In particular, Dougie Freedman knows him well and has a lot of time for him.

“We are working on the basis perhaps that you cannot have too many good quality players in your squad."

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Chairman Steve Parish added: “Rob is a player who will bring tremendous quality, possessing considerable Premier League experience for his age.

"Rob gives us options in two positions at the back, and we warmly welcome him to Crystal Palace.”

Speculation over Holding's future had been rampant this week.

Reports on Wednesday claimed he was being eyed up for a sensational move to Spain, with La Liga sides Sevilla and Mallorca both making approaches.

However, Holding's pathway has seen him remain in London, switching north for Arsenal's historical home in the south.

Albert Sambi Lokonga has also left in a loan move to Luton after Flo Balogun, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares all left earlier in the week.

Arteta said: “I don’t expect anyone else to come in this window and we’re working to find the best possible solutions for some players leaving us.

“The players are happy and the club have done some good business as well.

“We didn’t have space in our squad for Flo to have the minutes he needed and he wanted the chance to continue to develop his career.

“But he has gone to a good club with Monaco and I am really happy for him.”

Lokonga, 23, was surplus to requirements at Arsenal, as he was behind Declan Rice, Thomas Partey, Jorginho and Mo Elneny in the queue for a place in Arteta’s team.

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