Can Romain Esse play for Crystal Palace against Millwall in the FA Cup?

Crystal Palace will host London rivals Millwall at Selhurst Park next month in FA Cup fifth round action.

It looks set to be one of the tastier cup ties at the start of March. The Lions beat Leeds United at Elland Road to book their place in the next round, while Crystal Palace overcame League Two side Doncaster Rovers.

There were cheers around the concourse at Selhurst Park when the draw was announced and Eagles boss Oliver Glasner is aware of the hype too.

Oliver Glasner aware of Millwall rivalry

He said: "For me I knew about it a little bit, because when we talked with Romain [Esse] I saw the rivalry between Millwall and Crystal Palace. Then I could see as well that all the staff were very excited when we heard we could play Millwall at home in the last 16 of the FA Cup.

"Of course it makes it bigger this game - it's an all or nothing game - and of course we want to go into the quarter-finals. It would be a big achievement. But it is still far away for me. Doncaster is done and now we have to find focus for Everton. We've had our fourth away win [in-a-row] but now we have to be ready for a really strong Everton side at home. And we will be ready."

The fixture is particularly head-turning with Crystal Palace having just forked out £14.5 million to recruit Esse from Millwall in January, prizing away one of the Championship club's top rising talents.

Can Romain Esse play for Crystal Palace against Millwall?

There had initially been talk of a loan being involved in Romain Esse's move to Crystal Palace, but that had only ever been to see the winger head back to The Den to finish the 2024/25 season following a permanent transfer.

That was eventually not part of the deal struck between the two London clubs, with Esse joining Oliver Glasner's side permanently and with a view to make an immediate impact this season.

If Esse had played in Millwall's FA Cup campaign this season, he would have been cup tied and unable to feature for Crystal Palace in the tournament. A player cannot represent more than one team in the tournament in any one season.

The Lions did have an FA Cup fixture before Esse moved to Crystal Palace, facing Dagenham & Redbridge in the third round on January 13. Esse was not in the Millwall matchday squad because of ongoing talk with the Premier League side.

Alex Neil explained at the time: "There wasn't an issue. Crystal Palace have shown a lot of interest in Romain. I didn't make him available for the game and I think the situation is progressing and what I wouldn't do is put that at risk at this stage. If that changes then Romain will be back in the squad."

Therefore, Esse is eligible to play for Crystal Palace against Millwall next month. He has already featured for the Eagles in the competition, managing 28 minutes in the 2-0 win over Doncaster Rovers.

In other news, Crystal Palace are racing Rangers to sign a rising League One prospect in what would be a 'classic' Steve Parish swoop.