Crystal Palace legend sends emotional message to fans ahead of summer departure

Crystal Palace legend James McArthur will leave the club at the end of this season after nine years in south London.

The Scottish midfielder joined Palace from Wigan in 2014 and has gone on to establish himself as one of the club’s legends backed by 252 appearances, and 17 league goals from the heart of midfield as Palace cemented their Premier League status year after year.

Not many including himself thought he’d be at the club for that long when he joined the Eagles from Wigan and admits it's been a pleasure to serve a club as pure and classy Palace.

The midfielder said: “If you’d have told me when I first came to Crystal Palace that I’d be here for nine seasons, I’d have found it hard to believe, because it’s rare in football to spend so long at such an amazing Premier League club.

“I would like to thank everyone: all my managers, the Chairman, [Sporting Director] Dougie Freedman, and the players present and past. I’ve had a journey with so many people here over the years.

“I also want to say a massive thank you to every one of the fans. The support that I’ve had personally, and the support that they give the team, is like at no other club. When times are tough, Palace fans really get behind the team, and that’s so important to all of us. I will always be a fan of the club.”

James McArthur departs as the third longest-serving member of the current squad with only Joel Ward and Wilfried Zaha making more appearances than him. Selhurst Park is expected to give him a massive send-off when they face Nottingham Forest this weekend.