Christantus Uche to Crystal Palace: Togo ace reveals Getafe players tried to block Super Eagles star’s exit
The summer transfer saga involving Christantus Ugonna Uche reached a dramatic climax this week, as the Nigerian midfield/attacking prospect finally joined Premier League side Crystal Palace from Getafe. But behind the scenes, sources say several members of the Getafe squad reportedly tried to block his departure — a revelation that adds tension to an already turbulent window.
Uche, 22, signed a season-long loan deal with Palace on September 1, with a mandatory buy clause activated if he starts ten competitive matches. His rise has been rapid: after shining at Ceuta, his performances in LaLiga drew attention from top clubs. Over the last campaign he scored four goals and provided seven assists for Getafe, earning him a place on many transfer wishlists.
However, Uche’s transfer to Selhurst Park was anything but straightforward. How did it almost collapse? First, Wolves came close to securing the deal. Reports reveal that Wolves and Getafe agreed on a fee of about €20 million (or £17 million) plus add-ons. But Uche and his agent found the personal terms unsatisfactory. It wasn’t just the salary — the agent was allegedly unhappy with the commission structure. Then, tensions escalated as negotiations broke down.
What made matters worse, say insiders, was that some Getafe players dislike seeing Uche leave; reportedly, they tried to put pressure on him — either directly or via internal channels — urging him to stay and help the club. Whether this was in the form of locker-room persuasion or more formal pressure is unclear, but several media reports suggest Uche felt the weight of resistance from within his own squad. At one point, according to Marca, Uche was “travelling to London to join Crystal Palace ‘against his will’,” indicating how much friction surrounded the move.
Despite all that, Uche has expressed his delight in landing in the Premier League. “This moment is unbelievable,” he told the club. “I’m very lucky to be here today and this club is a big opportunity for me.” For Getafe, the deal is important financially as well: if the clause is triggered, both Getafe and Ceuta stand to earn significant sums from the permanent transfer. Ceuta, in particular, own 12.5% of Uche’s rights, so their payday depends on him meeting the starter threshold.
For now, all eyes will be on Uche’s integration into Crystal Palace, and whether he can make those ten starts and complete his move under the mandatory clause — and whether he can do so while navigating the complex dynamics he left behind at Getafe.
Leave a Reply