Crystal Palace star agrees transfer in Sheffield United and Wrexham blow

Crystal Palace defender Rob Holding has left the club as a free agent and is expected to sign for Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids.

Sky Sports report that the player is due to sign an 18-month contract with the MLS outfit and that the Eagles will not stand in the way of the move. Holding has another 12 months left on his Crystal Palace contract but is expected to be allowed to leave as he is not part of Oliver Glasner’s plans.

Holding joined the south London outfit from Arsenal in September 2023 on a three-year deal, with Crystal Palace paying a reported £4 million for the deal. Holding had spent seven years at the Emirates Stadium having moved to the club from Bolton Wanderers in 2016.

Rob Holding leaves Crystal Palace

The 29-year-old only ever made one appearance for Crystal Palace, playing 90 minutes in a 3-0 Carabao Cup defeat to Manchester United in September 2023. The player joined Sheffield United on loan in January and stayed until the end of the season.

The Blades had been linked with a transfer move for QPR defender Jimmy Dunne at the time but had a bid rejected by the R’s and instead turned attention to Holding amid injury worries at Bramall Lane. Holding made 11 appearances for Sheffield United and was an unused substitute as Chris Wilder’s side were beaten in the play-off final by Sunderland.

A Crystal Palace statement on Thursday read: “Crystal Palace F.C. can confirm that Rob Holding has left the club. Holding joined Palace in September 2023 from fellow Premier League side Arsenal.

“The defender spent the latter half of last season on loan at Sheffield United, where he played 12 times. The club wishes Rob well for his future career.”

Wrexham and Sheffield United lose Crystal Palace transfer race

Meanwhile, Sky Sports reported: “Rob Holding is set to join Colorado Rapids today - subject to international clearance. The defender is due to sign an 18-month contract and will leave Crystal Palace on a free transfer.

The MLS side had competition from the Championship sides Sheffield United - where he spent the second half of last season on loan - and newly-promoted Wrexham. Holding has one year remaining on his contract at Palace but has been out of the first team picture - having made just one appearance since joining from Arsenal in 2023.”

The Blades had been linked with a permanent move for Holding this summer but Wilder was sacked in June and replaced by Ruben Selles. The defender was known to have a good relationship with Wilder and, following the manager’s sacking, Holding wrote online: “Great human and great manager, can’t thank you enough for what you did for me this season.”

Holding will work under manager Chris Armas at Colorado Rapids. The team sits ninth in the Western Conference as it stands.

In other news, Crystal Palace submit £27.6m 'offer' for 'incredibly strong' defender who could replace Marc Guehi.