Craig Farquhar is signed by Crystal Palace
According to Academy Director Gary Issott, Crystal Palace has obtained the Irishman’s signature after keeping an eye on him for a “long period of time,” as stated on the team’s official website.
During his tenure at Larne, Farquhar participated in the 2023 qualifying round for the UEFA Champions League, an event the Irish team regrettably lost 3-2 over two legs to HJK.
The tall 20-year-old has played in 53 senior football games and scored four goals, making an impression good enough to get him a transfer to Selhurst Park.
The Academy Director added, “Craig is a player that the club has watched over a long period of time,” building on the remarks made by Issott earlier.
“He is a young center-half with the skills necessary to compete at the greatest levels in the game. Early in his career, he played both first-team and European football. Craig will provide competition in the defensive end of the pitch by joining our Under-21 team.
Dougie Freedman is looking towards Ireland.
Not all Irish talent has recently joined Crystal Palace, including Farquhar.
Prior to the Ballymena-born defender finalising his transfer to SE25, Dougie Freedman oversaw the signings of highly regarded players Kofi Balmer and Franco Umeh.
Though Evan Ferguson—whom Crystal Palace’s fierce rivals Brighton actually stole—is one of the few Irish players to have broken through in the Premier League recently, Freedman obviously sees great value in bringing Ireland’s best prospects to south London; only time will tell if it works out for the Eagles.