Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Peterborough forward Dwight Gayle for a club record fee as the newly-promoted English Premier League side look to make an impression with the new season in the horizon.
Gayle, who was playing non-league football 12 months ago, signed a four-year contract with Palace and cannot wait to get started in the Premier League after sealing a £4.5 million ($6.8 million) switch.
"I'm ecstatic really," the 22-year-old told the club's official website. "I just want to get preseason started now.
"The chance came and I had to grab it because I might not get another chance. To be playing in the Premier League from where I've come from is a big achievement really.
"I'm just really looking forward to it and hopefully I can take the opportunity with both hands and do well."
Palace manager Ian Holloway believes completing the signing of Gayle, who was wanted by as many as 12 clubs, is a real statement of intent from the club.
"I'm absolutely delighted," he said. "I was very annoyed when we didn't get him last year to be honest. But now it makes a huge statement for us and it proves that I don't care where I get my people from. I believe it's about how good you're going to be, not just how good you are already.
"I think this fella has got Crystal Palace stamped all over him -- the way he moves, the way he chases, the way he works. He's hungry for success and I'm absolutely thrilled that after long conversations we've come up with, I think, a proper Palace player.
"He's got an opportunity now to go and enjoy his football and I think he'll score goals at Premier League level, I really do. He's born to score goals.
"Goals from certain people just keep happening, it doesn't matter which level you start at, they just keep happening. I think the way he plays, from what I've studied and games I've seen him, the boy moves like a top player. It's now about helping him deal with the top level against top defenders.
"My chairman went in with a brief -- don't come out of the room without getting him -- and I'm thankful, very, very thankful. He's given us a goalscorer of the future in our team right now, which is priceless."
Gayle, who scored 13 goals for Peterborough last season, also is looking forward to working under Holloway, a manager he rates very highly. "He's a good manager and for him to point out my talent and my ability is a good feeling," the striker added. "I just hope I can repay him with goals for the club and help them stay in the Premier League.
"He's built a very attacking side, which is what you need really. You need to score goals to win games to keep you up and to win trophies, which he proved last season."
