Crystal Palace are on the verge of completing the signing of free agent defender Oscar Mingueza, with the 27-year-old understood to have undergone his medical at Selhurst Park on Wednesday. The Spaniard's contract at Celta Vigo has expired, and Palace are set to hand him a four-year deal under new manager Pierre Sage.
Palace Land an Experienced European Defender for Free
Sky Sports News understands that Mingueza completed his medical on Wednesday ahead of what would be a straightforward transfer, given his status as a free agent. Palace are bringing in the right-sided defender to add depth and competition in that area of the pitch, with Sage looking to build a squad capable of competing in both the Premier League and the Europa League next season.
The 27-year-old is described as a versatile right-sided player, capable of operating at right-back or as a wing-back — a crucial asset for a Palace side expected to play with a back three or a wing-back system under the new manager. Sage employed a 3-4-2-1 system at RC Lens, and it is understood that one of the reasons he was attracted to Selhurst Park was the presence of players adaptable to that structure.
Who is Oscar Mingueza?
Mingueza came through the famous La Masia academy at Barcelona, making his first-team debut during the 2020-21 season under Ronald Koeman. He was a steady presence at right-back and centre-back for the Catalan giants over two seasons before moving to Celta Vigo, where he established himself as one of La Liga's better full-backs over several seasons.
His experience across Barcelona's first team and multiple campaigns in La Liga at Celta Vigo means Palace are getting a player well-versed in top-level European football. At 27, he arrives at his peak and brings with him the kind of tactical intelligence that Sage's system demands.
No Impact on Lacroix's Future
Importantly for Palace fans, the arrival of Mingueza is not expected to have any bearing on the future of centre-back Maxence Lacroix, who has attracted significant interest from Chelsea this summer. The two moves are being treated as separate matters, with Palace aware they may need to replace Lacroix if the Chelsea interest materialises into a firm bid.
Meanwhile, Palace also confirmed this week that midfielder Daichi Kamada has agreed a new one-year contract extension, committing the Japanese international to the club until summer 2027. The 29-year-old has been a key figure in Palace's back-to-back trophy wins — the FA Cup and the Conference League — and his retention alongside the Mingueza signing signals a busy and productive summer of business at Selhurst Park.
Source: Sky Sports News | Image: Oscar Mingueza (pictured during his time at FC Barcelona), Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0) | soloscore.com
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