Crystal Palace confirm Kouyate signing

Cheikhou Kouyate is trading in the modernity of London Stadium for the quaint confines of Selhurst Park.

Crystal Palace announced late Wednesday the signing of the towering Senegalese international midfielder, with Kouyate and the Croydon lot reaching a four-year deal for an undisclosed fee.

"I'm so happy. It's been a long day but now everything is good and I'm very excited to start with my new teammates," the 28-year-old told Palace TV. "This is the right time to move because I needed a new challenge. I have good memories of West Ham but I need to come here and give my best because I like the Crystal Palace project."

Kouyate stays in the English capital following a four-year spell with West Ham, where the tough-tackling midfielder made 129 league appearances, pairing a dozen goals with seven assists in a withdrawn position.

"I spoke to the manager and I know he'll be a good manager. I also spoke to Pape Souare yesterday and he told me I had to come and now I'm here and I'm very happy," Kouyate added.

Fresh off a sporadic role at the 2018 World Cup in Russia for Aliou Cisse's Lions of Teranga, Kouyate becomes Roy Hodgson's first major signing of the summer transfer window. The south London lot are also reportedly expected to sign 22-year-old midfielder Max Meyer, whose contract at Schalke was annulled.