CRYSTAL PALACE chairman Steve Parish today said Wilfried Zaha leaves the south London club as its greatest ever player, after his move to Galatasaray was confirmed.
Zaha has joined the Turkish champions on a free transfer after rejecting an offer of a new £200,000-a-week contract to stay at Selhurst Park.
Parish said "after long discussions it became clear" that Zaha "wanted a different challenge" and losing the 30-year-old forward is a major blow to Palace with less than three weeks until the start of the new season.
Palace had been optimistic Zaha would sign a new deal and manager Roy Hodgson admits the club "is losing an iconic figure".
Zaha joined Palace aged eight and made 458 senior appearances for the Eagles, scoring 90 goals.
Parish said: "Wilfried Zaha leaves the club having been our best and most influential player.
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