'A humble person': teammate reveals how Crystal Palace star is behind the scenes after £22m move

Crystal Palace star Adam Wharton is such a humble person behind the scenes, according to his former teammate at Blackburn, Arnor Sigurdsson.

The Eagles midfielder should be pinching himself after what has been a remarkable six months that saw Palace sign him for £22 million. Since moving to South London, he played for England under-21, got called up for the Three Lions, made his debut, and is now gatecrashing England’s Euros team. Such an inspirational rise for a 20-year-old.

Asked what he was like behind the scenes, Sigurdsson told South London Press: “It doesn’t surprise me, no, absolutely not. He’s an amazing football player and such a humble person as well. Seeing him literally flying now, I just said to him, ‘Has this sunk in yet?’ We were playing against Millwall away six months ago, and now he’s going to the Euros with the biggest country in the world. It was just nice seeing him.

“I just wished him good luck at the Euros and congratulated him on everything – it’s almost too much to congratulate him for, but now, I’m just super proud of him. He’s so humble.”

On what the ceiling was for a player who has grown so much in the last six months, Sigurdsson said he was just starting.

He added: “He’s just such a kind guy and also his brother Scott (Wharton, who is at Blackburn). I can imagine just the family; it’s two top boys. It’s been a pleasure getting to know Adam and now seeing him perform like this.

“But I knew the whole time that he was going to show everyone what he’s capable of doing, and he did that. I’m really excited to follow him and watch him play. I saw the last game with England (Bosnia & Herzegovina); he made such a huge impact, but he’s just getting started, and I know he can really reach the top.”

Palace are the club with the highest number of players in the England squad as they look to win their first Euros in recent history.