Crystal Palace have completed the signing of young midfielder Adam Wharton from Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee.
The 19-year-old signs a five-and-a-half-year deal in south London after demonstrating his ability and potential during a breakout season-and-a-half in the Championship.
Wharton was only awarded his first professional contract at boyhood club Blackburn Rovers in May 2022, but went on to win the club’s 2022/23 Young Player of the Year following an outstanding maiden season in senior football.
His rapid rise has also led to international recognition with England at Under-19s and U-20s levels, and he now becomes Palace’s second signing of the winter transfer window after defender Daniel Muñoz.
Chairman Steve Parish said: “I’m delighted that Adam, a player whose rapid development we have followed closely, has decided to join us at Crystal Palace.”
“Adam’s consistently impressive performances for Blackburn at such a young age have understandably caught the eye of many a club, but we believe Palace to be – as has so often been the case in recent years – the perfect place to harness his undoubted potential, and we look forward to working with him in the years ahead to do so.”
Wharton added, “I’ve always wanted to play in the Premier League and to play for such a big club like Crystal Palace is a great honour.”
“The way they’ve brought players from the Championship and developed them into world-class players in the Premier League is something that stood out to me, and it’s a big reason why I wanted to come here.”