'Medical Booked': Crystal Palace to sign Champions League star

Crystal Palace have booked a medical for PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper Walter Benitez ahead of a free transfer to the club this summer.

The 32-year-old is out of contract with the Dutch club later this month and has not put pen to paper on a new contract. The Athletic reports that the shot-stopper is in London on Friday to complete a medical this afternoon.

Benitez, who has only played for three teams since his professional debut in 2011, has one cap for the Argentina national side. He is a product of the Quimles academy and started his professional career with the Argentine club before moving to Nice and then PSV in 2022.

Crystal Palace book medical for PSV Eindhoven goalkeeper

Crystal Palace are looking to add a third senior goalkeeper to Oliver Glasner’s squad, behind Dean Henderson and Remi Matthews. That spot had been filed by Matt Turner but the American was only on loan from Nottingham Forest last season.

He has since returned to The City Ground but is expected to complete a £6.7 million move to Ligue 1 side Lyon. Turner only ever made four appearances for the Eagles, three in the FA Cup and one in the Carabao Cup, keeping clean sheets against Stockport County and Doncaster Rovers.

Matthews, who had been third choice at Crystal Palace, has extended his contract with the club and is expected to remain third choice. Benitez will provide back-up for Henderson and The Athletic adds that the club hopes he will provide competition for the England international.

Oliver Glasner desire for shot-stopper competition

Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner is known to relish competition between his goalkeepers. Speaking in March ahead of the FA Cup meeting with Fulham, he said: “I talked to both goalkeepers, to Matt and Dean today, and I took a decision. Dean will start tomorrow.

“On the one side it was a tough decision, on the other side it was a very good decision for me to have to take, to choose between two great goalkeepers, with everybody having 100 per cent confidence and trust in us.

“I decided that Dean is our No. 1, has played most of the [league] games, and that's why I said: ‘OK, especially when we didn't have a game now for three weeks, I don't want to change this.’ And that's why he will start tomorrow. [Turner was] very professional. We always talked two or three times this week because I was undecided for a long time, but, again, it's the best situation you can have, to choose between two players who are in form and on a very top level.

“He [Turner] accepted it I know that we can rely on him whenever we need him. When we need him tomorrow, we can rely on him. When we need support from the bench, we can rely on him. If we need him in the game, we can rely on him. He's a great guy, fantastic guy. He took it very professionally and that's what we expect.”

Benitez won the Eredivisie with PSV Eindhoven in 2024 and 2025, making 134 appearances for the club. He started all but one of PSV’s Champions League games this season and will bring European experience to Selhurst Park ahead of the Europa League campaign.

The report adds that young goalkeeper Owen Goodman is in discussions over a loan move to Huddersfield Town and will develop his game in League One. Goodman spent last season on loan at Wimbledon in League Two and won the golden glove award as the club achieved promotion via the play-offs. It’s reported that Wimbledon are ‘keen’ to bring the player back but that a move to Huddersfield looks more likely for the highly-rated 21-year-old.

In other news, 'In Talks': Crystal Palace contract update could be fatal Man Utd transfer blow.