Crystal Palace Struck Gold on Pino Over Strand Larsen 2026

Key Points

• Crystal Palace signed Spanish winger Yeremy Pino from Villarreal in August 2025 for up to £26 million (initial €30m plus add-ons), a deal hailed as excellent business by chairman Steve Parish.
• Pino, aged 22, has a market value exceeding that of Jørgen Strand Larsen, Palace’s club-record £48m signing from Wolves in January/February 2026 (€49.7m upfront plus €7m add-ons).
• Pino boasts 45 goal contributions in 175 appearances for Villarreal and 3 goals in 15 caps for Spain, including the 2023 Nations League final win over Croatia; he is the youngest to score a first-half hat-trick in La Liga history.
• Strand Larsen, 26, scored 14 Premier League goals last season for Wolves but only 1 in 21 games this term before his £43m fixed fee plus £5m add-ons move to Palace as a replacement for Jean-Philippe Mateta.
• Palace chairman Steve Parish described Pino as “an talent, already such impressive record, European international football has chosen as the next step in his career.”​
• The Pino deal followed sales like Eberechi Eze to Arsenal, funding Palace’s squad rebuild under Oliver Glasner; Pino wears No. 10 and debuted quickly.
• Strand Larsen’s signing puzzled some fans due to his form, but Palace had funds from selling Eze and Marc Guéhi for combined €92.3m; it broke their prior record set by Brennan Johnson (£40m from Tottenham).
• Pino has more senior appearances than most under-23 players in Europe’s top five leagues pre-joining Palace; he has 2 goals in 26 games this season per ESPN stats.
• Palace’s January 2026 window included other ins like Brennan Johnson (£35m) and outs like Guéhi (£20m to Man City); a late Dwight McNeil loan-to-buy collapsed.
• Pino signed a five-year deal and was available for the Aston Villa match shortly after transfer.

South London (South London News) March 10, 2026 – Crystal Palace have struck gold with the signing of Spanish star Yeremy Pino from Villarreal, whose market value and potential surpass that of the club’s recent £48 million acquisition of Jørgen Strand Larsen from Wolves, according to analysts at Football FanCast. Chairman Steve Parish oversaw both deals as part of a strategic squad overhaul, with Pino’s arrival in August 2025 proving a masterstroke amid heavy spending on the Norwegian striker earlier this year. The contrasting profiles highlight Palace’s ambition in the transfer market despite mixed fan reactions to the high-stakes investments.

What Is the Background of Crystal Palace’s Yeremy Pino Signing?

Crystal Palace secured Yeremy Pino from Villarreal in a deal worth up to £26 million in late August 2025, as confirmed by the club’s official announcement.

The 22-year-old Spain international signed a five-year contract and took the No. 10 shirt, making him available for the Premier League clash against Aston Villa days later. As reported by BBC Sport, Palace agreed the fee despite Pino’s £69 million release clause, capitalising on less than two years left on his Villarreal deal.

Pino’s breakout came in 2020/21 at Villarreal, where he scored in the UEFA Europa League shortly after his professional debut. He amassed 45 goal contributions across 175 appearances for the Yellow Submarine, per Crystal Palace FC’s player profile.

In February 2022, Pino made history as the youngest player to score a first-half hat-trick in La Liga, netting four in a 5-1 rout of Espanyol. Internationally, he has three goals in 15 senior Spain caps, starting in their 2023 Nations League final victory over Croatia.

Chairman Steve Parish hailed the capture, stating to Yahoo Sports,

“It fantastic news Yer – an talent, already such impressive record, European international football has chosen as the next step in his career.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirmed via Football Place that the €30m fixed plus add-ons verbal agreement followed Eberechi Eze’s sale to Arsenal, positioning Pino as the replacement.

Why Is Yeremy Pino Valued More Than Jørgen Strand Larsen?

Football FanCast analysis points out that Crystal Palace

“appear to have conducted excellent business with the signing of one star,”

referring to Pino whose worth eclipses Strand Larsen’s despite the latter’s club-record fee. Pino, under 23 at signing, had more senior appearances in Europe’s top five leagues than all but three peers, underscoring his elite pedigree. Transfermarkt data values Pino higher due to his youth, versatility, and output: 4 goals and 7 assists last season alone.

In contrast, Strand Larsen’s €49.7m upfront plus €7m add-ons move from Wolves in late January 2026 raised eyebrows, given his solitary goal in 22 games that season. ESPN sources detailed the £48m ($66m) agreement, with £43m initial and £5m add-ons, as a Mateta replacement after AC Milan’s interest. Sky Sports noted Palace paid £43m fixed for the 26-year-old Norwegian, who scored 14 goals last term but struggled at bottom-of-the-table Wolves.

As per Transfermarkt news, Palace broke their record previously set by Brennan Johnson at €40m, funding it via Eze and Marc Guéhi sales totalling €92.3m. The Athletic’s analysis questioned the “eye-watering fee” for Strand Larsen but noted his “tall and agile” qualities akin to past signing Alexander Sørloth.

What Did Key Figures Say About These Transfers?

Steve Parish’s endorsement of Pino was unequivocal, as quoted in the official club statement and echoed across BBC and Yahoo reports:

“It fantastic news Yer – an talent, already such impressive record.”

Fabrizio Romano, via Football Place, affirmed:

“Yeremy Pino to Crystal Palace is agreed: €30m plus add-ons… The 22-year-old winger has already said ‘yes’ to Palace.”

On Strand Larsen, Crystal Palace’s announcement called him a “delight” per AllFootball, with Transfermarkt estimating €49.7m. Post-debut, Strand Larsen told Sky Sports after a 1-0 win over Brighton: “It was the most intense game I’ve ever played in!… I had cramps all over for that last finish!” Wolves context from Sky Sports highlighted his 14-goal prior season under Vitor Pereira.

No direct quotes from Oliver Glasner on Pino surfaced immediately, but YouTube channel Quinny’s Football Community noted excitement:

“Yeremy Pino arrives in from Villarreal… Crystal Palace have FINALLY opened the cheque book.”​

How Does Jørgen Strand Larsen’s Transfer Compare to Pino’s?

This table illustrates Pino’s value-for-money edge, per Football FanCast’s “struck gold” verdict on the winger over the pricier striker.

What Impact Have Pino and Strand Larsen Had at Crystal Palace?

Pino has integrated swiftly, registering 2 goals in 26 Premier League games this 2025-26 season per ESPN stats, behind Mateta’s 8 and Ismaïla Sarr’s 5. Football FanCast praised his potential as a “unique talent” akin to Eze and Zaha, aiding Palace’s attack alongside Strand Larsen and Mateta.

Strand Larsen’s debut was electric: a 1-0 win at Brighton where he impressed with pressing despite no goal, crediting Bart Verbruggen’s saves.

Sky Sports confirmed Mateta stayed, linking up with the new No. 22. Palace’s turbulent window included Brennan Johnson (£35m) in, but failed Dwight McNeil loan-to-buy (£20m obligation).

What Were Crystal Palace’s Broader Transfer Moves?

January 2026 saw ins like Hindolo Mustapha (loan return), Evann Guessand (loan), alongside Strand Larsen; outs included Guéhi (£20m to Man City), Naouirou Ahamada to Auxerre. Sky Sports detailed the McNeil collapse: “Palace also had a loan bid… accepted but… ran out of time.” The Athletic called it “turbulent” with “botched signings.”

Pino’s summer arrival post-Olise sale set the tone, with YouTube buzz on Glasner’s “evolving style.” Sports Mole tracked net spend positively despite records broken.​​

Why Did Palace Invest Heavily Despite Form Concerns?

Funds from Eze, Guéhi, and others enabled ambition, per Transfermarkt: “Palace… have capital to spend.” The Athletic drew parallels to Sørloth’s eventual success. Fan puzzlement over Strand Larsen’s form was noted by multiple outlets, yet his potential justified the risk.

Pino’s signing exemplifies Parish’s eye for talent, outshining later spends in value terms. Palace sit mid-table, bolstered by these moves as of March 2026.